College Physics by Openstax Chapter 2 Problem 43: Determining the Required Takeoff Velocity for a Basketball Player to Reach a Height of 1.25 Meters


Problem:

A basketball referee tosses the ball straight up for the starting tip-off. At what velocity must a basketball player leave the ground to rise 1.25 m above the floor in an attempt to get the ball?


Solution:

It is our assumption that the player attempts to get the ball at the top where the velocity is zero.

The given are the following: v_{fy}=0 \ \text{m/s}; \Delta y=1.25 \ \text{m}; and a=-9.80 \ \text{m/s}^2.

We are required to solve for the initial velocity v_{0y} of the player. We are going to use the formula

\left(v_{fy}\right)^2=\left(v_{oy}\right)^2+2a\Delta y

Solving for v_{oy} in terms of the other variables:

v_{oy}=\sqrt{\left(v_{fy}\right)^2-2a\Delta y}

Substituting the given values:

\begin{align*}
v_{oy} & =\sqrt{\left(v_{fy}\right)^2-2a\Delta y} \\
v_{oy} & = \sqrt{\left(0\:\text{m/s}\right)^2-2\left(-9.80\:\text{m/s}^2\right)\left(1.25\:\text{m}\right)} \\
v_{oy} & =4.95 \ \text{m/s} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)
\end{align*}

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College Physics 2nd Edition Solutions Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction: The Nature of Science and Physics

Chapter 2: Kinematics

Chapter 3: Two-Dimensional Kinematics

Chapter 4: Dynamics: Force and Newton’s Law of Motion

Chapter 5: Further Applications of Newton’s Laws: Friction, Drag, and Elasticity

Chapter 6: Uniform Circular Motion and Gravitation

Chapter 7: Work, Energy, and Energy Resources

Chapter 8: Linear Momentum and Collisions

Chapter 9: Statics and Torque

Chapter 10: Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum

Chapter 11: Fluid Mechanics

Chapter 12: Fluid Dynamics and Its Biological and Medical Applications

Chapter 13: Temperature, Kinetic Theory, and the Gas Laws

Chapter 14: Heat and Heat Transfer Methods

Chapter 15: Thermodynamics

Chapter 16: Oscillatory Motion and Waves

Chapter 17: Physics of Hearing

Chapter 18: Electric Charge and Electric Field

Chapter 19: Electric Potential and Electric Field

Chapter 20:
Electric Current, Resistance, and Ohm’s Law

Chapter 21: Circuits and DC Instruments

Chapter 22: Magnetism

Chapter 23: Electromagnetic Induction, AC Circuits, and Electrical Technologies

Chapter 24: Electromagnetic Waves

Chapter 25: Geometric Optics

Chapter 26: Vision and Optical Instrument

Chapter 27: Wave Optics

Chapter 28: Special Relativity

Chapter 29: Introduction to Quantum Physics

Chapter 30: Atomic Physics

Chapter 31: Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics

Chapter 32: Medical Applications of Nuclear Physics

Chapter 33: Particle Physics

Chapter 34: Frontiers of Physics