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Chapter 1: Problem 23

If a ball is thrown straight up into the air, what is its acceleration as it moves upward? What is its acceleration when it reaches its highest point and is stopped at an instant?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The acceleration of the ball as it moves upward and at its highest point is -9.81 m/s². This is due to the constant downward force of gravity.

Step by step solution

01

Stage 1: Moving Upward

When the ball is thrown straight up into the air, it has an initial upward velocity and is subjected to downward acceleration due to gravity. The acceleration due to gravity is a constant value (approximately 9.81 m/s²) and always acts downwards (negative direction in this case). During upward motion, the ball's acceleration is -9.81 m/s².
02

Stage 2: At the Highest Point

At the highest point, the upward velocity of the ball becomes zero for an instant since the ball has to change its direction to fall back down. However, even at this point, the acceleration due to gravity still acts. So, the acceleration remains the same, -9.81 m/s².
03

Conclusion

Thus, the acceleration of the ball as it moves upward is -9.81 m/s², and when it reaches its highest point and stops for an instant, the acceleration is still -9.81 m/s². In both cases, the acceleration due to gravity remains constant and acts downward.

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