A ball of mass 0.50 kg is thrown vertically upwards, calculate the net force on the ball at the top of its flight
- mg = - .5 * 9.81 = - 4.9 Newtons
the whole time if you ignore air frictional drag
To calculate the net force on the ball at the top of its flight, we need to consider the forces acting on the ball.
At the top of its flight, the ball is momentarily at rest, which means the net force acting on it is zero.
The forces acting on the ball are:
1. Gravitational force (weight): The ball experiences a downward force due to gravity. Its weight can be calculated using the formula:
Weight = mass × acceleration due to gravity
Given that the mass of the ball is 0.50 kg and the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s², the weight can be calculated as:
Weight = 0.50 kg × 9.8 m/s²
2. Air resistance: Assuming negligible air resistance, we can disregard this force.
Since there are no other forces acting on the ball (assuming negligible air resistance), the net force at the top of its flight is equal to zero.
To calculate the net force on the ball at the top of its flight, we need to consider the forces acting on the ball.
At the top of its flight, the ball is momentarily at rest before it starts to fall back down. Therefore, the net force on the ball at this point is equal to zero.
However, to further understand why the net force is zero at the top of its flight, let's break down the forces acting on the ball during its upward motion:
1. Gravitational force (Weight): The ball experiences a gravitational force pulling it downward. The magnitude of this force can be calculated using the formula F = m * g, where m is the mass of the ball and g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2 on Earth).
2. Air resistance: As the ball moves upwards, it experiences a resistance force due to air resistance acting in the opposite direction of its motion. The magnitude of this force depends on various factors, such as the shape of the ball and its velocity. However, for simplicity, let's assume that air resistance can be neglected in this scenario.
Since the ball is momentarily at rest at the top of its flight, the net force on the ball is the vector sum of all forces acting on it. In this case, the only force acting on the ball is its weight.
Therefore, the net force on the ball at the top of its flight is equal to its weight, which can be calculated as:
Net force = Weight = m * g
Substituting the given values, with mass (m) = 0.50 kg and acceleration due to gravity (g) = 9.8 m/s^2, we can calculate the net force on the ball:
Net force = (0.50 kg) * (9.8 m/s^2) = 4.9 N
Hence, the net force on the ball at the top of its flight is 4.9 Newtons.