Projectile Motion of a golf ball off a cliff

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a projectile motion problem involving a golf ball being hit horizontally off a cliff. The original poster presents a scenario where the ball is launched from a height of 24.0 meters with an initial horizontal speed of 40.0 m/s, seeking assistance in determining how far from the base of the cliff the ball will land.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the vertical and horizontal components of motion, discussing the necessary equations for displacement and time. The original poster expresses uncertainty about calculating the time of flight, while others suggest using kinematic equations to find the time based on vertical displacement.

Discussion Status

There are multiple lines of reasoning being explored, with some participants providing equations and insights into the nature of projectile motion. Guidance has been offered regarding the relationship between vertical and horizontal motion, although no consensus has been reached on the specific calculations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the initial vertical velocity is zero and question the assumptions made about the motion. There is also mention of the effects of projection angles and the nature of projectile paths, indicating a broader exploration of the topic beyond the specific problem presented.

TaurenOfBlight
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
I miseed a day of school when they taught this topic here is a sample question, If someone can help me learn how to do these types of questions I would be most grateful

Sam Dupher hits a gold ball horizontally off a 24.0m high cliff with a speed of 40.0 m/sec. How far from the base of the cliff will the ball strike the ground?

So far What I have is...

In Y Dir
Displacement = -24.0
acceleration = -9.81 m/s^2
Vi= 40 m/s
t=?

dx= 40m/s*t

See my problem is I do not know how to solve for t.
I would really like to understand this so if anyone can help ! please do
 
Physics news on Phys.org
TaurenOfBlight said:
I miseed a day of school when they taught this topic here is a sample question, If someone can help me learn how to do these types of questions I would be most grateful

Sam Dupher hits a gold ball horizontally off a 24.0m high cliff with a speed of 40.0 m/sec. How far from the base of the cliff will the ball strike the ground?

So far What I have is...

In Y Dir
Displacement = -24.0
acceleration = -9.81 m/s^2
Vi= 40 m/s
t=?

dx= 40m/s*t

See my problem is I do not know how to solve for t.
I would really like to understand this so if anyone can help ! please do

in Y dir the initial velocity is 0
in X dir initial velocity is 40 m/s

To get the amount of time the ball is in the air you just need to determine how long it takes the ball to travel 24 meters in the Y dir, you probably know the equation that gives the total displacement:
displacement = v_initial*t + 0.5*acceleration*t^2
so in Y dir:
24 = 0*t + 0.5*9.81*t^2
24 = 0.5*9.81*t^2
t = Square_root(48/9.81)

now you have the t that you can use in:
dx= 40m/s*t
 
few mathmatical equation

this apply tom most projection motion from ground to ground

in vertical component y:

accelration: -g g equal 9.8m/s2
velocity: -gt+usin(d) { g as above t=time u=intial velicty d=degree to the horizontal of projection}

displacement: -0.5gt^2+utsin(d)+0

note if it's project at a buildng or a cliff the equation of displacemnt would be:
-0.5gt^2+utsin(d)+c where c is the meters above ground

in horizontal compent x:
acclearion =0 and always that's why horizontal motion is not affect by vertical compontent

velocity= ucos(d)
dispaclemtn = utcos(d)


fews thing needs to know :

the max displacemnt can be project with same intial velocity is when the degree of projection equals 45 degree

the max height (from ground level) of projection occur when time is equals to half
and vertical velocty equals to 0 plus horizontal displacemnt is half as well

horizontal velcity always is a constant

also if (degree of projection )is:
0 then sin(d)=0 cos(d)=1
90 then sin(d)=1 cos(d)=0
-90 then sin(d)=-1 cos(d)=0

ic in ur case the projection angle is -90
 
Last edited by a moderator:
TaurenOfBlight said:
So far What I have is...

In Y Dir
Displacement = -24.0
acceleration = -9.81 m/s^2
Vi= 40 m/s
t=?
What's the initial speed in the y direction? It's not 40 m/s!

What's the equation for the vertical displacement as a function of time? (The vertical motion is uniformly accelerated (a = -g).)
 
btw projection motion are true upsidedown parabola
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K