Hitting the "High Striker" A young woman at a carnival steps up to the "high s...

Hitting the "High Striker" A young woman at a carnival steps up to the "high striker," a popular test of strength where the contestant hits one end of a lever with a mallet, propelling a small metal plug upward toward a bell. She gives the mallet a mighty swing and sends the plug to the top of the striker, where it rings the bell. Figure 34 shows the corresponding position-versus-time plot for the plug. Using the information given in the plot, answer the following questions: (a) What is the average speed of the plug during its upward journey? (b) By how much does the speed of the plug decrease during its upward journey? (c) What is the initial speed of the plug? (Assume the plug to be in free fall during its upward motion, with no effects of air resistance or friction.)

FIGURE 34