Understanding the Physics
* Free Fall: The ball is in free fall, meaning the only force acting on it is gravity.
* Acceleration due to Gravity (g): The acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s². This means the ball's speed increases by 9.8 meters per second every second it falls.
Calculations
1. Initial Velocity (v₀): The ball is dropped, so its initial velocity is 0 m/s.
2. Time (t): The time it takes to reach the ground is 5.5 seconds.
3. Final Velocity (v): We can use the following equation to find the final velocity:
* v = v₀ + gt
* v = 0 + (9.8 m/s²) * (5.5 s)
* v = 53.9 m/s
Answer
The ball will have a speed of approximately 53.9 meters per second when it hits the ground.
