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Throwing Upward

Part of the Mechanics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 30 of 94.

A ball thrown straight up slows down, stops for an instant at the top, then falls back. With up positive, a = -9.8 m/s² the whole time.

A velocity-time graph of a ball thrown up at 19.6 metres per second: a straight line falling through zero at 2 seconds, the top, down to -19.6 metres per second at 4 seconds

The slope is -9.8 m/s² all the way; v = 0 at the top.

At the top v = 0, which gives:

t_top = v0 / g, h_max = v0² / (2g)

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Challenge

A volleyball player hits the ball straight up at 14 m/s. Find the height h the ball rises.

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