A cricket bowler releases the ball in two different ways a) giving it only horizontal velocity and b) giving it horizontal velocity and a small downward velocity. The speed vs at the time of release is the same. Both are released at a height H from the ground. Which one will have greater speed when the ball hits the ground? Neglect air resistance.
A cricket bowler releases the ball in two different ways a) giving it only horizontal velocity and b) giving it horizontal velocity and a small downward velocity. The speed vs at the time of release is the same. Both are released at a height H from the ground. Which one will have greater speed when the ball hits the ground? Neglect air resistance.

a)
\frac{1}{2} v_{z}^{2}=g H \Rightarrow v_{z}=\sqrt{2 g H}
Speed at ground is given as:
\sqrt{v_{s}^{2}+v_{z}^{2}}=\sqrt{v_{s}^{2}+2 g H}

b)\frac{1}{2} m v_{s}^{2}+m g H is the total energy of the ball when it hits the ground.
Hence, a) and b) both have the same speed.