How Does Horizontal Force Affect an Object's Vertical Velocity?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a 3 kg object with an initial vertical velocity and a horizontal force acting on it. Participants are exploring how the horizontal force influences the object's final velocity, particularly in the context of vector components.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the impulse-momentum theorem but expresses confusion about the interaction between horizontal force and vertical motion. Some participants clarify that the x and y motions are independent and suggest using vector notation for clarity.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing the implications of horizontal force on vertical velocity. There is acknowledgment of the need to correctly identify initial conditions and apply vector addition after determining the final horizontal velocity. No consensus has been reached, but guidance has been offered regarding the independence of motion in different directions.

Contextual Notes

There is some confusion regarding the initial velocity and mass values used in calculations. The problem setup involves a horizontal force acting on an object already in vertical motion, raising questions about how to properly account for these factors in the analysis.

Eiano
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I have this problem that says a 3 kg object has a velocity of 7.00m/s j (vertical, right?). Then a total of 12.0Ni (horizontal) acts on it for 5 seconds. What is the objects final velocity.

I know that the equation is Ft=mvf-mvi

I could just plug everything in, but what's bothering me is the fat that the mass has an vertical velocity and the force is acting on it horizontally. Am I reading this wrong or is this the case?

If so, how do I go avout finding what I need to plug in.

My work:

Ft=mvf-mvi
(12N)(5s)=(5)(vf)-(5)(7)... then solve for vf, but that seems too easy.
 
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The object is moving in the vertical direction with that velocity, yes and then the force acts on it for 5 seconds. So yeah, that is the case.

You still use [itex]\vec{F}t = m(\vec{v_{f}} - \vec{v_{i}})[/tex] and solve for [itex]\vec{v_{f}}[/itex], but writing the force and inital velocity in terms of vectors and not just their magnitudes.[/itex]
 
Last edited:
The motion in the x direction is independent of the motion in the y direction. Since there is no y-directed force, the y-velocity will be unchanged. In you last equation, you should only have x-directed quantities. You substituted the wrong number for mass, and you have the wrong initial velocity.

After you get the final x-velocity, you need to add it to the y-velocity by vector addition.

OOPs- scooped again :smile:
 
ohhh i didn't mean to put in 5 as the mass :)
so i have to find the initial velocity first? it's not just 7 huh...
then find the final V and doo Vector addition,

ok thank you all very much!
 

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