physics question

Question

A baseball player throws a ball with an initial velocity of 20m/s at 40º above horizontal. What is the vertical component of the ball's initial velocity? (Answer with three significant digits and include units.)

Answer 1

Sorry Gulshan & Gin,

you want sin, not cos. It is the vertical component, not the horizontal one, which is required.

I was more intrigued by the mention of "three significant digits". That suggests that the thrower threw a structured pitch, perhaps a curveball -- but at 40^o above the horizontal? (Regular fielder throws would have 4 digits in contact with the ball during the throw.)

-- Cheers, -- Mr. d.

Answer 2

A baseball player throws a ball with an initial velocity of 20m/s at 40º above horizontal. What is the vertical component of the ball's initial velocity? (Answer with three significant digits and include units.)

Vertical Component = V Cos 40

= 20 Cos 40

= 20 *0.766= 15.32

= 15.3 m/s ( Three significant figures )