Projectile Motion Help: Find Maximum Height, Time of Flight & Horizontal Range

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on solving projectile motion problems involving a cannonball launched at a 45-degree angle with an initial speed of 220 m/s. Key calculations include determining the maximum height, time of flight, and horizontal range. The maximum height is calculated to be 1240 meters using the formula for vertical motion. The time of flight and horizontal range require solving a quadratic equation, which the user struggles with due to a negative discriminant, indicating a potential error in their calculations.

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  • Understanding of projectile motion principles
  • Familiarity with kinematic equations
  • Knowledge of quadratic equations and their solutions
  • Basic concepts of velocity components in two dimensions
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  • Review kinematic equations for projectile motion
  • Learn how to apply the quadratic formula correctly
  • Study the concept of velocity components and their significance in projectile motion
  • Explore the effects of gravity on projectile trajectories
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Students studying physics, educators teaching projectile motion, and anyone seeking to understand the mathematical principles behind motion in two dimensions.

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I need help on projectile motion questions because i had to miss a whole lesson for some reason and my teacher said to try some of the questions.
Anyways I am stuck on this question.

A cannon is set at an angle of 45 degrees above the horizontal. A cannon ball leaves the muzzle with a speed of 220 m/s. Air resistance is negligible. Determine the cannonball's
a) maximum height
b) time of flight
c) horizontal range (to the same vertical level)

This is what i did. I am not going to do step by step on the part i got.

Before these i started i found VIx which is 155.6 m/s and Viy is the same
a) At max height Vfy=0( i don't get why but i know that's how you do it)
2ad=Vi^2 + Vf^2
d= (155.6)^2/-2(-9.8)
d= 1240m

b)i have no idea how to get this one i hope you can help me.

c)i started but i couldn't finish. This is what i did

d=Vit + 1/2a(t^2)
1240=155.6t - 4.9t^2
4.9t^2 - 155.6t + 1240 = 0

I know i need to do the quadratic formula after this but i get a negative with the radical so i don't know what to do i think i made a mistake somewhere.

Can you please help me?
 
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To understand why the vy=0 at the peak of motion you need to think about how gravity is effecting the motion. Gravity is always acting toward the earth, so as long as the projectile has a upward directed velocity (Vy>0 it will be slowed by gravity. Now consider what happens when it has been slowed by gravity to the point it has lost all of its upward motion. It will stop, so Vy=0, now it will begin to fall, so now Vy<0 . Can you figure out from this why Vy=0 is at the highest point?
 
For b, you need to think about what the velocity components are when the flight is finished.

For c, if you have an equation for distance vs time, the answer to b will be useful.

hotvette
 

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