Understanding the Concepts

* Free Fall: The ball is in free fall, meaning the only force acting on it is gravity.

* Acceleration due to Gravity: The acceleration due to gravity (g) is approximately 9.8 m/s². This means the ball's velocity increases by 9.8 meters per second every second it falls.

* Initial Velocity: The ball is dropped, so its initial velocity (v₀) is 0 m/s.

The Formula

We can use the following kinematic equation to find the final velocity (v) just before the ball hits the ground:

v = v₀ + at

where:

* v = final velocity

* v₀ = initial velocity

* a = acceleration (due to gravity, g = 9.8 m/s²)

* t = time

Calculations

1. Plug in the values:

v = 0 m/s + (9.8 m/s²) * (3.0 s)

2. Solve for v:

v = 29.4 m/s

Answer:

The velocity of the ball just before it hits the ground is 29.4 m/s.