A steel ball is dropped onto a thick piece of foam. The ball is released 2.5 meters above the foam. The foam compresses 3.0 cm as the ball comes to rest. What is the magnitude of the ball's acceleration as it comes to rest on the foam

the magnitude of the ball's acceleration as it comes to rest on the foam is 817.5 m/s²

Explanation:

Given the data in the question;

initial velocity; u = 0 m/s

height; h = 2.5 m

we find the velocity of the ball just before it touches the foam.

using the equation of motion;

v² = u² + 2gh

we know that acceleration due gravity g = 9.81 m/s²

so we substitute

v² = ( 0 )² + ( 2 × 9.81 × 2.5 )

v² = 49.05

v = √49.05

v = 7.00357 m/s

Now as the ball touches the foam

final velocity v₀ = 0 m/s

compresses S = 3 cm = 0.03 m

so

v₀² = v² + 2as

we substitute

( 0 )² = 49.05 + 0.06a

0.06a = -49.05

a = -49.05 / 0.06

a = -817.5 m/s²

Therefore, the magnitude of the ball's acceleration as it comes to rest on the foam is 817.5 m/s²