On the Apollo 14 mission to the moon, astronaut Alan Shepard hit a golf ball with a golf club improvised from a tool. The free-fall acceleration on the moon is 1/6 of its value on earth. Suppose he hit the ball with a speed of 25 m/sm/s at an angle 26 ∘∘ above the horizontal.

COMPLETE QUESTION:

On the Apollo 14 mission to the moon, astronaut Alan Shepard hit a golf ball with a golf club improvised from a tool. The free-fall acceleration on the moon is 1/6 of its value on earth. Suppose he hit the ball with a speed of 25 m/sm/s at an angle 26 ∘∘ above the horizontal.

a. How long was the ball in flight? b. How far did it travel? c. Ignoring air resistance, how much farther would it travel on the moon than on earth?

Answers: a) 15.31 seconds b) 331.387 metres c) 276.156 metres

Explanation:

a) Time of flight

2usinθ / g

= 2 x 25 x 0.5 / 9.8 x 6

= 15.31 seconds

b) Range

= u²sin2θ / g

= 25² x √3/2 ÷ 9.8 x 6

= 331.387 meters

c) Extra distance travelled

Firstly,

Range on earth = 25² x √3/2 ÷ 9.8

= 55.231 metres.

Therefore, extra distance traveled is Range on moon minus range on earth

= 331.387 - 55.231

= 276.156 metres.