Question

A baseball player is warming up and tosses a ball straight up into the air. The ball travels up until it reaches some maximum height, and then falls back down to the player\'s hand. If we neglect air resistance, then the magnitude of the acceleration of the ball is:

Answer 1

The magnitude of the acceleration of the ball is always in the same direction as the motion, initially positive and gradually dropping to zero by the time it hits the ground.

Step-by-step explanation:

The magnitude of the acceleration of the ball is always in the same direction as the motion, initially positive and gradually dropping to zero by the time it hits the ground. This is because the ball experiences a constant acceleration due to gravity, which is always directed downwards. As the ball travels upwards, the acceleration gradually decreases until it reaches zero at the maximum height. Then, as the ball falls back down, the acceleration remains constant and directed downwards.

Answer 2

The only force acting on the ball, once it left the hand of the player, is the gravitational atraction of the earth. Once the ball reaches its maximum height, it starts a free fall movement under the action of earth's gravity.

Then the magnitude of the acceleration of the ball is the gravitational acceleration, g, approximatley 9.8 m/s^2