Stone thrown up at 60 m/s: height, time

A stone is thrown straight up at 60 m/s (g = 10 m/s²). Find the maximum height it rises and the total time from the throw until it comes back to the thrower's hand.

Step-by-step

1. h = v₀²/(2g) = 60²/(2×10) = 180
   The upward leg ends at speed 0, and v₀² = 2gh gives the maximum height
2. t = 2v₀/g = 2×60/10 = 12
   Rising and falling take equal times, so the total is 2 times the rise time

Why it works

The stone slows at g while rising and is momentarily at rest at the top; the way down repeats the way up, so the total time is twice the rise time.

Common mistakes

• Reporting only the 6 s rise as the total time and dropping the fall.
• Using h = v0² / g instead of h = v0² / (2g), which doubles the height.

Related

vertical-throw echo-well vertical-throw-50ms-total-time