A ball is launched horizontally at a speed of 4.0m/s from the top of a cliff that is 24.6 meters high. Where in the ball's trajectory is the horizontal speed a maximum? Explain how you know.

The horizontal speed of the ball is constant where there is little resistance from the air

Explanation:

From the given parameters of the ball, we have;

The horizontal speed of the ball = 4.0 m/s

The height of the cliff from which the ball is launched = 24.6 meters

The direction in which the ball is launched = Horizontally

The components of the forces acting on the ball are;

The vertical force = The Earth's gravitational attraction

The horizontal force = 0 N (There are no horizontal forces acting on the ball)

According to Newton's first law of motion, the ball will continue in its uniform motion or in its rest state unless acted upon by a force

Therefore, given that there are no horizontal forces component acting on the ball, (little air resistance) the ball will continue with the initial horizontal velocity, such that the horizontal velocity of the ball remains constant.