Understanding the Physics
* Gravity: The primary force acting on the ball is gravity, which causes it to accelerate downwards. The acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s² (meters per second squared).
* Initial Velocity: Since the ball is dropped, its initial velocity (v₀) is 0 m/s.
* Time: The time (t) elapsed is 3 seconds.
Formula
We can use the following kinematic equation to find the final velocity (v):
v = v₀ + at
Calculations
* v = 0 m/s + (9.8 m/s²) * (3 s)
* v = 29.4 m/s
Answer
The velocity of the ball after 3 seconds is 29.4 m/s downwards.
