Daniel kicks a soccer ball up into the air with an initial upward velocity of 63 feet per second. The ball is 2 feet above the ground when it is kicked. Write an equation to model the situation.
I. Write an equation to model the situation.
$$\small{\text{$~\boxed{~h(t) = \dfrac{g}{2}\cdot t^2 + v\cdot t + h_0 \qquad g = -32 ~\frac{ft.}{sec^2} \qquad v = 63~\frac{ft.}{sec} \qquad h_0 = 2~ft. ~}
~$}}$$
The height of the soccer ball at any given time, t, can be calculated according to the function,
$$\small\text{$~h(t) = -16\cdot t^2 + 63\cdot t + 2 ~$}}$$ , where time is measured in seconds and the height is measured in feet.
This is a parabola $$\small{\text{$~y = a\cdot x^2+b\cdot x+c~$}}$$.
II. How long will it take the ball to reach its maximum height ?
The vertex of the parabola is $$\small{\text{$~x=t=\frac{-b}{2a} = \frac{-63}{2\cdot(-16)}=1.96875 ~\rm{sec.} ~$}}$$
III. What is the maximum height of the ball ?
$$\small\text{$~
\begin{array}{rcl}
h(1.96875~\rm{sec.}) &=& -16\cdot {1.96875}^2 + 63\cdot 1.96875 + 2\\
&=& -62.015625~\rm{ft.} +124.03125~\rm{ft.} +2 ~\rm{ft.}\\
h(1.96875~\rm{sec.}) &=& 64.015625~\rm{ft.}
\end{array}
~$}}$$
.