From the 2016 OCR B paper A ball is thrown at an angle of 30 Degrees to the horizontal. The initial kinetic energy of the ball is K. Air resistance is negligible. What is the kinetic energy of the ball at the maximum height.

This is a common class of question concerning projectile motion and the independence of orthogonal forces.
First the student should sketch the problem an label the forces, In doing this they will see that the only force acting upon the projectile is gravity.
Next the student should recognise that at the maximum height point the ball changes directing meaning that its velocity at that point passes through zero.
As the forward motion Vx of the ball is unaffected the kinetic energy of the ball at this point is simply 1/2 m Vx2 .
The student now has to calculate Vx from the initial velocity V using trigonometry. Vx =cos(30)V (using the classic soh cah toa)
Dividing the final energy by the energy at the apex and simplifying gives (1/2 m Vx2)/(1/2 m V2) =Vx2 /V2 = V2 cos2(30)/V2 =0.75 so the answer is that the final energy is is 0.75
K

AR
Answered by Andrew R. Physics tutor

8241 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A geostationary satellite is orbiting Earth, a) What is meant by a geostationary orbit? b) Calculate the height at which the satellite orbits above the surface of the Earth. The radius of the Earth is 6400km and its mass is 6x10^24 kg.


Newton's Law of Gravitation states: F=GMm/r^2, where G is the gravitational constant (6.67×10−11m^3kg^−1s^−2). Kepler's Third Law, states t^2=kR^3. The mass of the sun is 1.99x10^30kg. Find the value of k and its units


Bismuth-208, which has an atomic mass of 208u and 83 protons in the nucleus, decays through the emission of 2 alpha particles and a beta-positive particle. What isotope results from this decay?


Single electrons travelling at 550 ms^-1 are passed through a diffraction grating with a spacing between the slits of 2.5 micrometers. What would the angle between the zeroth and first maximum of the resulting interference pattern be?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning