A ball rolls with a speed of 4.0 m/s across a level table that is 1.0 m above the floor. Upon reaching the edge of the table, it

follows a parabolic path to the floor. How many meters along the floor is the landing spot from the table?

Answer: 1.81m

Explanation:

Given the following:

Horizontal speed = 4m/s

Height of table = 1m

Taking the vertical component of the motion:

Using:

S = ut + 0.5 at^2

Where, S = height of table, a = acceleration due to gravity (9.8m/s^2), t = time and u = Initial Velocity in vertical direction = 0

1 = 0 (t) + 0.5 (9.8) t^2

1 = 4.9t^2

t^2 = 1 / 4.9

t^2 = 0.204081

t = sqrt (0.204081)

t = 0.452s

For Horizontal:

Gravitational acceleration is absent, therefore distance can be calculated using:

Distance = Velocity * time

Distance = 4m/s * 0.452s

Distance = 1.808 m

Distance = 1.81m