Understanding the Physics

* Gravity: The primary force acting on the ball is gravity, which pulls it downwards at a rate of approximately 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s²).

* Velocity: Velocity is how fast something is moving and in what direction. Since we're dealing with upward and downward motion, we'll need to consider the direction of the velocity.

Calculations

1. Initial Velocity: The ball starts with an upward velocity of 40 m/s.

2. Acceleration due to Gravity: The acceleration due to gravity is -9.8 m/s². We use a negative sign because gravity acts downwards.

3. Time: We want to know the velocity after 5 seconds.

Using the Formula

We can use the following formula to calculate the final velocity (v) of an object:

v = u + at

where:

* v = final velocity

* u = initial velocity

* a = acceleration

* t = time

Plugging in the Values

* v = 40 m/s + (-9.8 m/s²) * 5 s

* v = 40 m/s - 49 m/s

* v = -9 m/s

Interpreting the Result

The final velocity of the ball after 5 seconds is -9 m/s. The negative sign indicates that the ball is moving downwards.

Therefore, after 5 seconds, the ball is moving downwards with a velocity of 9 meters per second.