Understanding the Physics
* Free Fall: This means the ball is only under the influence of gravity. We ignore air resistance for this calculation.
* Acceleration Due to Gravity: The acceleration due to gravity (g) is approximately 9.8 m/s². This means the ball's speed increases by 9.8 meters per second every second it falls.
The Formula
We'll use the following kinematic equation:
* v² = u² + 2as
Where:
* v: Final velocity (the speed we want to find)
* u: Initial velocity (usually 0 m/s if the ball is dropped)
* a: Acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²)
* s: Distance (55 m)
Calculation
1. Plug in the values:
* v² = 0² + 2 * 9.8 * 55
* v² = 1078
2. Solve for v:
* v = √1078
* v ≈ 32.8 m/s
Therefore, the speed of the ball just before it hits the ground is approximately 32.8 m/s.
Important Notes:
* This calculation assumes no air resistance. In reality, air resistance will slow the ball down, making its actual speed slightly less.
* This calculation only provides the final velocity. The ball's speed will be changing constantly during the fall.
