Answer to Question #18427 in Mechanics | Relativity for Katherine

Question

an astronaut plays paddle ball in orbit. the ball is hit with a speed of 5.21 m/s in the positive direction and has an average negative acceleration of 4.5 m/s2. How far does the ball travel before it stops and begins to return toward the paddle? How long is it moving in the positive direction?

Answer 1

Let's find the time the ball travel before it stops. We can do it in a such way:

T = 5.21[m/s]/4.5[m/s²] ≈ 1.158 seconds.

That time the ball travels

D = 5.21[m/s]*1.158[s] - 4.5[m/s²]*(1.158[s])²/2 ≈ 3 metres.

So, the ball moves about 1.158 seconds in the positive direction and the travelled distance is about 3 metres.