From a point 100 m above the ground, a ball is thrown horizontally with a speed of 20 m/s . Determine the horizontal distance the ball travels before reaching the ground in meters.

Step-by-step solution

Let the time taken by the ball to reach the ground be t . Using the second equation of motion in the vertical direction: h = u_y t + 1 2 g t^2 Since the ball is thrown horizontally, the initial vertical velocity u_y = 0 . Assuming g = 10 m/s ^2 : 100 = 0 + 1 2 (10) t^2 100 = 5t^2 t^2 = 20 t = 20 = 2 5 s The horizontal distance (range) traveled by the ball is given by: R = u_x t R = 20 2 5 = 40 5 m