To calculate the velocity of the ball as it strikes the ground, we can use the equation of motion for an object in free fall:
v^2 = u^2 + 2as
Where:
- v is the final velocity (which we want to find)
- u is the initial velocity (which is zero as the ball starts from rest)
- a is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2)
- s is the displacement (20 meters in this case, since the ball falls 20 meters)
Plugging in the values into the equation, we have:
v^2 = 0 + 2 * 9.8 * 20 v^2 = 0 + 392 v^2 = 392
To find v, we can take the square root of both sides of the equation:
v = √392 v ≈ 19.8 m/s
Therefore, the velocity of the ball as it strikes the ground is approximately 19.8 m/s.