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Physics question

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laxstar
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 11
I got a stupid question on my final for intro physics and i am just over thinking the problem.

If a ball is thrown perfectly straight into the air, when it is at its highest point (aka not moving up or down) what is its Velocity?? I can't figure out if it is, 0 because it is not going anywhere or 10 m/s^2 (aka g)....

K+ for help or the right answer
Dec 13 2010 4:13PM
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gabe.
Posts: 1891 - Karma: 47
are you looking for velocity final, or velocity average?
Dec 13 2010 4:18PM
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laxstar
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 11
i think just instantaneous velocity... my professor gave us general ideas for the questions he would ask and all he said was if a ball is thrown into the air what is its velocity when it is at the top of its motion.
Dec 13 2010 4:20PM
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
Velocity is zero. Force is 9.8 m/s/s down always.
Dec 13 2010 4:22PM
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Anathema
Posts: 21048 - Karma: 5,061

you answered your own question

if it's at its highest point and therefore not moving up or down, what the hell do you think it's velocity is?

stationary objects have no velocity

Dec 13 2010 4:24PM
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
it's climaxing.... tee hee

but yeah derivative is zero. i think i have had a real math class in four years.
Dec 13 2010 4:24PM
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daskis
Posts: 1828 - Karma: 356
It's 0 m/s.
Dec 13 2010 4:28PM
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laxstar
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 11
thanks everyone, i think just to much cramming for finals has got my brain a little mush
Dec 13 2010 4:32PM
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
You should check these out if you have any more questions:
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/physics

They are sims for almost every physics concept and it really helps you get a handle on something you don't get.
Dec 13 2010 4:45PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
velocity at the highest point is 0

and velocity is not acceleration...

velocity is expressed in m/s (or something similar)
while acceleration is expressed in m/s/s or m/s² or an equivalent....

g = 9.81m/s² -> an acceleration, not a velocity (it's constant, so at the highest point the velocity is 0 and the acceleration is 9.81m/s² aimed downwards towards the earth)

try to read a little bit more about it and try to understand what you're calculating, physics really isn't that hard once you know what you're doing ... (especially in highschool you can ace it if you're dedicated)
Dec 13 2010 5:18PM
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