Jane drops a football from the roof onto the ground below. The ball weighs 0.8kg and the distance the ball falls is 5m. Assuming there are no external forces acting on the ball, what speed will the ball be travelling at just before it hits the ground?

As the ball falls from a height to the floor, the gravitational potential energy stored in the ball will be converted to kinetic energy.The gravitational potential energy of the ball can be calculated using:gpe = mgh : m =0.8kg, g=9.8N/kg, h=5m so gpe = 0.8 x 9.8 x 5 = 39.2JKinetic energy can be calculated using: eK = 0.5 x m x v^2 . We can rearrange this to get v = SqRt (( 2 x eK )/ m).eK = 39.2J, m=0.8kg, so v = SqRt ((2 x 39.2)/0.8) = 9.899 m/s. To 2sf this is 9.9m/s

KO

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How do current and voltage vary in series and parallel circuits, respectively?


If fusing hydrogen nuclei together puts them into a lower energy state, and matter always wants to be in a lower energy state, then why hasn't all the hydrogen in the universe already done this?


Outline the structure of the alpha and beta particle and give their overall charge and a material which it cannot pass through.


A rocket travels at 500m/s two minutes after its take-off. If it was initially stationary, calculate its acceleration. If the rocket has a mass of 1800kg, what force is required to give it an acceleration of 2m/s^2?