The question is:
Ball A is dropped from the top of a building of height h, and simultaneously Ball B is thrown vertically upward. If the two balls collid at height h/3, what is the initial velocity of Ball B?
The answer they are looking for is:
Vinitial = 1/2*sqrt(3gh)
But I have no idea how to get there. The closest I can get using the formulas I know is:
Vinitial = Vfinal - sqrt(2gh/3)
(g refers to the acceleration of gravity, -9.81m/s)
Hint: $h(t)=h_0+v_0t+\frac{1}2gt^2$
Ball B starts at $h_0=0$ and $v_0=v_\text{initial}$.
Ball A starts at $h_0=h$ and $v_0=0$.
At time $t=t_\text{collision}$, $h(t_\text{collision})=h/3$ for both Ball A and Ball B.
Solve $h_A(t_\text{collision})=h/3$ for $t_\text{collision}$ in terms of $h$.
Set $h_A(t_\text{collision})=h_B(t_\text{collision})$ and solve for $v_\text{initial}$.