A tennis ball is released from height h and after freely falling on a wooden floor rebounds to height h/2. Which velocity-versus-height graph may represent the motion?
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Question

A tennis ball is released from height h and after freely falling on a wooden floor rebounds to height h/2. Which velocity-versus-height graph may represent the motion?

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

Before impact, taking upward velocity positive, v=-√[2g(h₀-h)]. After the bounce the ball moves upward with positive velocity and reaches only height h/2. The graph must show a negative lower branch before impact and a positive branch terminating at h/2 after impact; this is Image 2. Hence option B.