This worksheet shows the height of a ball tossed straight up or dropped from a cliff, indicated by the function graphed in blue. Find the average velocity of the ball from when it is released at the top of the cliff to when it hits the ground. The average velocity is the average rate of change of the height with respect to time. Note that the graph is NOT the actual trajectory of the ball. It simply shows the height of the ball as a function of time. Height is in meters and time is in seconds. Click on the circular arrow button at the top right corner to generate a new equation.
1. How does the red line relate to the average rate of change of the height of the ball? 2. Can you use the equation to find the initial velocity of the ball (that is, the velocity at which the ball is released at the top of the cliff)? 3. If the ball is tossed, what is the highest point it reaches, and at what time?