A volleyball is spiked so that it has an initial velocity of 17.6 m/s directed downward at an angle of 51.3 ° below the horizontal. What is the horizontal component of the ball's velocity when the opposing player fields the ball?

Horizontal component of the velocity when the opposing player fields the ball = 11.00 m/s

Explanation:

The velocity of a body in 2 dimension can be resolved in to 2 parts, horizontal and vertical component. In the case of free falling or projectile body the horizontal component remains the same but vertical component is affected by acceleration due to gravity.

In this case Initial velocity = 17.6 m/s

Angle between horizontal axis and direction of velocity = 51.3 °

We know that horizontal component = v cos θ

Vertical component = v sin θ

Since the horizontal component remains the same, it is unchanged when the opposing player fields the ball.

So horizontal component of the velocity = v cos θ = 17.6 * cos 51.3 °

= 11.00 m/s