Calculate Force Applied: Y=1/2at^2 Solution

  • Thread starter fubag
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Force
In summary, you and your lab partner devise a clever experiment to measure the force applied to a ball when it is thrown. You throw a 200-gram ball vertically upward. A high-speed video image of the throw indicates your hand pushed on the ball for 0.32 seconds. The ball rises to a maximum height of 7.23 meters above your hand.
  • #1
fubag
105
0
You and your lab partner devise a clever experiment to measure the force applied to a ball when it is thrown. You throw a 200-{g} ball vertically upward. A high-speed video image of the throw indicates your hand pushed on the ball for 0.32 {\rm s}. The ball rises to a maximum height of 7.23 {\rm m} above your hand.

Calculate the force applied.


I tried.

Y = 1/2at^2

so

7.23m = 1/2(9.81m/s/s)(t^2)

Solved for t = 1.2 seconds...


Now I know F = ma

so is it simply F = 0.2kg*9.81m/s/s?

Im not sure
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
fubag said:
I tried.

Y = 1/2at^2

so

7.23m = 1/2(9.81m/s/s)(t^2)

Solved for t = 1.2 seconds...
Now find the speed of the ball as it leaves your hand.


Now I know F = ma

so is it simply F = 0.2kg*9.81m/s/s?
No. That's just the weight of the ball.

Instead, figure out the ball's acceleration during the time that you were pushing on it. Then apply Newton's 2nd law to find the net force. (Note that your hand is not the only force acting on the ball.)
 
  • #3
ok so there is a normal force as well? means F = m(a-g)?

then to find speed of the ball as it leaves my hand, how do I know final velocity? if I threw it, shouldn't initial velocity be 0?So to push the ball it took 0.32 seconds... F = ma...

Am I supposed to use work here?

I know that acceleration due to gravity is 9.8m/s/s

So to find acceleration of the ball, I just set ma = m(a-g)?
 
  • #4
fubag said:
ok so there is a normal force as well? means F = m(a-g)?
Right. The force of the hand is the normal force.

then to find speed of the ball as it leaves my hand, how do I know final velocity? if I threw it, shouldn't initial velocity be 0?
Once the ball leaves your hand, it's a projectile. The final speed of that projectile motion is zero. But what's the initial speed (as it leaves your hand).

To find the acceleration of the ball during the time you were pushing on it, you will use a bit of kinematics. Once you find the speed at which the ball left your hand (using the height and projectile motion), you can find the acceleration by change in velocity over time.
 
  • #5
ok...

if final velocity is zero in the x direction and initial velocity in y direction is 0. And if I have the acceleration due to gravity.

I am getting 23.52 m/s as initial velocity? Using V = Vo + at, using a = -9.8 m/sThen I just find acceleration of the ball by 23.52 m/s / 0.32s? = 73.5 m/s/s?
 
  • #6
fubag said:
if final velocity is zero in the x direction and initial velocity in y direction is 0. And if I have the acceleration due to gravity.
Since it's thrown vertically, all we need to worry about is the y-direction. Let's call the initial velocity of the ball when it leaves the hand = Vo. The final velocity at the top of the motion (at y = 7.23 m) is zero.

I am getting 23.52 m/s as initial velocity? Using V = Vo + at, using a = -9.8 m/s
How did you get that number? What did you use for time?
 
  • #7
ok I redid it and got the answer..

I just used

Vf^2 = Vi^2 +2ad, with a= -9.8, d = 7.32, and Vf = 0 at highest point..

i then used a = change in velocity/time

So I got the acceleration, then I used multiplied by mass, of 0.2 kg.

Worked.

Thanks!
 

1. What is the formula for calculating force applied using the equation Y=1/2at^2?

The formula for calculating force applied is F=ma, where F represents force, m represents mass, and a represents acceleration. In this case, the equation Y=1/2at^2 is a variation of the original formula, where Y represents displacement and t represents time.

2. How do I find the value of acceleration in the equation Y=1/2at^2?

In order to find the value of acceleration, you will need to know the values of displacement (Y) and time (t). Once you have these values, you can rearrange the equation to solve for acceleration (a). The formula for acceleration is a=2(Y/t^2).

3. Can the equation Y=1/2at^2 be used to calculate force applied in all situations?

No, the equation Y=1/2at^2 can only be used to calculate force applied in situations where the acceleration is constant. If the acceleration is changing, a different formula, such as F=ma, must be used.

4. How can I use the equation Y=1/2at^2 to solve for displacement?

To solve for displacement, you will need to know the values of force (F), mass (m), and acceleration (a). Once you have these values, you can rearrange the original formula to solve for displacement (Y). The formula for displacement is Y=2(F/m)(t^2).

5. Is there a specific unit of measurement that should be used for the variables in the equation Y=1/2at^2?

Yes, there are specific units of measurement that should be used for the variables in this equation. Displacement (Y) should be measured in meters (m), time (t) should be measured in seconds (s), and acceleration (a) should be measured in meters per second squared (m/s^2).

Similar threads

  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
876
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
2
Replies
43
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
13
Views
6K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
12
Views
187
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
2
Replies
52
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
191
Back
Top