A girl rolls a ball up an incline and allows it to re- turn to her. For the angle and ball involved, the acceleration of the ball along the incline is constant at 0.25g, directed down the incline. If the ball is re- leased with a speed of 4 m /s, determine the distance s it moves up the incline before reversing its direc- tion and the total time t required for the ball to re- turn to the child’s hand.

We can adopt a system of reference with an axis along the incline, the origin being at the position of the girl and the positive X axis going up slope.

Then we know that the ball is subject to a constant acceleration of 0.25*g (2.45 m/s^2) pointing down slope. Since the acceleration is constant we can use the equation for constant acceleration:

X(t) = X0 + V0 * t + 1/2 * a * t^2

X0 = 0

V0 = 4 m/s

a = -2.45 m/s^2 (because the acceleration is down slope)

Then:

X(t) = 4*t - 1.22*t^2

And the equation for speed is:

V(t) = V0 + a * t

V(t) = 4 - 2.45 * t

If we equate this to zero we can find the moment where it stops and begins rolling down, that will be the highest point:

0 = 4 - 2.45 * t

4 = 2.45 * t

t = 1.63 s

Replacing that time on the position equation:

X(1.63) = 4 * 1.63 - 1.22 * 1.63^2 = 3.28 m

To find the time it will take to return we equate the position equation to zero:

0 = 4 * t - 1.22 * t^2

Since this is a quadratic equation it will have to answers, one will be the moment the ball was released (t = 0), the other will eb the moment when it returns:

0 = t * (4 - 1.22*t)

t1 = 0

0 = 4 - 1.22*t2

1.22 * t2 = 4

t2 = 3.28 s