A student tosses a ball horizontally from a balcony to a friend 3.8 meters down below them. How long does the ball take to reach their friend?

The time it takes the ball to fall 3.8 meters to friend below is approximately 0.88 seconds

Explanation:

The height from which the student tosses the ball to a friend, h = 3.8 meters above the friend

The direction in which the student tosses the ball = The horizontal direction

Given that the ball is tossed in the horizontal direction, and not the vertical direction, the initial vertical component of the velocity of the ball = 0

The equation of the vertical motion of the ball can therefore, be represented by the free fall equation as follows;

h = 1/2 × g × t²

Where;

g = The acceleration due gravity of the ball = 9.81 m/s²

t = The time of motion to cover height, h

Then height is already given as h = 3.8 m

Substituting gives;

3.8 = 1/2 × 9.81 × t²

t² = 3.8/(1/2 × 9.81) ≈ 0.775 s²

∴ t = √0.775 ≈ 0.88 seconds

The time it takes the ball to fall 3.8 meters to friend below is t ≈ 0.88 seconds.