Question

A tennis player strikes the tennis ball with an initial velocity of 44.7 m/s horizontally. The ball is initially 1.28 m above the ground and 12.9 m from the 0.914 m tall net. Does the tennis ball make it over the net?

Answer 1

Hi there!

We can begin by finding the total time taken for the ball to reach the net using the equation:

dₓ = vₓt

12.9 = 44.7t

12.9/44.7 = t = 0.289 s

Now, we can use the following equation to solve for displacement in the Y direction:

d = y₀ + vit + 1/2at²

There is no initial vertical velocity, so:

d = y₀ + 1/2at²

Plug in known values:

d = 1.28 + 1/2(-9.8)(0.289²)

d = 0.87m

Thus, since 0.87 m < 0.914 m, the tennis ball does NOT make it over the net.