Answer:
8.2 m/s upward
Explanation:
The motion of the ball is a free fall motion, so we can use the suvat equation:
[tex]v=u+at[/tex]
where:
v is the final velocity
u is the initial velocity
a is the acceleration
t is the time
Choosing upward as positive direction:
[tex]v=-6.5 m/s[/tex]
[tex]a=g=-9.8 m/s^2[/tex] (acceleration of gravity)
t = 1.5 s
Solving for u, we find the initial velocity:
[tex]u=v-at=-6.5-(-9.8)(1.5)=8.2 m/s[/tex]
And the direction is upward.