Question

A cricket bowler releases the ball in two different ways

(a) giving it only horizontal velocity, and

(b) giving it horizontal velocity and a small downward velocity. The speed vs at the time of release is the same. Both are released at a height H from the ground. Which one will have greater speed when the ball hits the ground? Neglect air resistance.

Answer 1

For (a) (1/2)v_z² = gH         v_z = √2gH

Speed at ground = √v_z² + v_z² =  √v_z² + 2gH

For (b) also [(1/2)mv_s² + mgH] is the total energy of the ball when it hits the ground.

So the speed would be the same for both (a) and (b).