Calculating Height and Velocity: Solving the Throw-up Problem

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In summary: I think this is the equation i should have been using all alongv2 = v1 + a*tv2 = 2.1 + -9.81*3v2 = 2.1 + -29.43v2 = -27.33 m/s [up]I think this should be right, right? :)Thank you for taking time to explain this to me, i understand now. You are welcome :)
  • #1
cidilon
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Homework Statement



Marian, who is standing on her balcony, is surprised by a pigeon and throws a flowerpot up in the air at 2.1 m/s. It takes 3.0 s for the flowerpot to smash to the ground. The flowerpot experiences acceleration due to gravity of 9.81m/s2 [down].

a) How high is Marian's balcony?
b) How fast was the flowerpot moving just before it smashed to the ground?

v1= 2.1 [up]
a= -9.81m/s2 [up]
t= 3.0 s

Homework Equations



Since acceleration is constant
d = v1*t + .5*a*t*t
v2[squared] = v1[squared] + 2*a*d

The Attempt at a Solution



a)
First i used d = v1*t + .5*a*t*t
d = 2.1*3.0 + .5*-9.81*3.0*3.0
d = -37.8 m [up] or -38 m [up] ---> i round it to 2 sig figs here, right?

Now here is where i get confused.

This is negative displacement because the flower pot is flying most of it's way down to the ground. Right? What i am confused about is, is this the actual displacement from the balcony to the ground? Is Marian's balcony 38 m high?
It just seems not right to me for some reason, it feels like i am missing some sort of step.

If this is the answer, then for b) i use
v2[squared] = v1[squared] + 2*a*d
v2[squared] = 2.1[squared] + 2(-9.81)(-38)
v2[squared] = 749.97[square root]
v2 = 27.4 m/s or 27 m/s --->should i make it three or two figs. I think two figs, right?

If everything is correct so far, why do i have positive velocity instead of negative. Should it not be negative?

Thanks in advance and if i am totally wrong, please do correct me :)
 
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  • #2
welcome to pf!

hi cidilon! welcome to pf! :smile:

(have a square-root: √ and try using the X2 and X2 icons just above the Reply box :wink:)
cidilon said:
This is negative displacement because the flower pot is flying most of it's way down to the ground. Right? What i am confused about is, is this the actual displacement from the balcony to the ground? Is Marian's balcony 38 m high?
It just seems not right to me for some reason, it feels like i am missing some sort of step.

yes, Marian's balcony is 38 m high (plus the height of her hand when she throws) …

the displacement is from the initial position :wink:
v2 = 27.4 m/s or 27 m/s --->should i make it three or two figs. I think two figs, right?

If everything is correct so far, why do i have positive velocity instead of negative. Should it not be negative?

if v2 = 27, v can be negative :wink:

(and yes, 2 sig figs)
 
  • #3


tiny-tim said:
if v2 = 27, v can be negative :wink:

(and yes, 2 sig figs)

So in this case it has to be negative right?
Did i just not get the negative because for displacement i used -38m, instead of just 38 which should be used this time around?

Thanks for the warm welcome :)
 
  • #4
cidilon said:
So in this case it has to be negative right?

the question asked "how fast …", so the answer has to be positive :wink:

(how you get to the answer, ie whether you measure up or down, is up to you … or down to you :biggrin: … but you must answer the question as asked!)
 
  • #5
Okay, so the answer is positive. Is my answer incorrect? Am i not answering the question asked? Sorry for my confusion!
 
  • #6
√(27.4), to 2 sig figs, is correct :smile:
 
  • #7
I have to square root 27.4 again? I mean i got the answer by square rooting, why do i have to do it again? I have a feeling i started overcomplicating things again...
 
  • #8
ohhh! i misread that …
cidilon said:
v2 = 27.4 m/s or 27 m/s …

… as v2 ! :biggrin:
 
  • #9
Awesome, thanks! :)
 
  • #10
Sorry to post again but i am confused about something else as well.

To get the second velocity i can also use v2 = v1 + a*t
If i do it this way i get -27 [up] instead of 27 [up] as with previous equation.

First, i am confused as to why i get different results? I understand that the question asked "how fast..." but doesn't -27 just mean that the motion is going in the opposite direction of the initial motion. So, the initial velocity was 2.1 m/s [up] and the second is 27 [down] or -27 [up] because it is going in the other direction. I am just confused that you said that when it says "how fast" it must be positive.

Also if possible, please can you explain why i keep getting 27 with first equation and -27 with second. Which equation should i used? The only reason i think that might happen is that when i use this equation...

v2[squared] = v1[squared] + 2*a*d
v2[squared] = 2.1[squared] + 2(-9.81)(-38)

..for displacement i put -38 instead of 38, which probably should be there instead.
Although i am not sure if i can set it as positive, if in my previous answer it was negative in relation to the balcony. So should it not remain negative here as well? Hmm..

Please look this over, i want to be confident :)
 
  • #11
hi cidilon! :smile:

(just got up :zzz: …)

if your equation has a square, then you can have either + or - …

you have to look at the reality to see which one it is!

cidilon said:
I am just confused that you said that when it says "how fast" it must be positive.

this is english rather than maths …

"how fast" is always positive :smile:

(translated into maths, the question would ask "what is the magnitude of the velocity?")
 
  • #12
The only reason why i am concerned is that it just does not make sense that v2 is positive because it is flying [down] compared to v1 which is flying up. I understand that when i measure v2 it is accelerating down in the negative direction which makes it positive. Therefore my answer has to be positive... but my answer for v2 is it 27m/s [down]? I mean, that would make sense but as the answer was positive it can not really be [down] which is negative. If it is [up] then i am even more confused, as v1 is [up]. What do you mean by "if your equation has a square, then you can have either + or -"?

Thanks,

I am also very sorry for bugging you so much, i hope i am not getting on your nerves!
 
  • #13
cidilon said:
What do you mean by "if your equation has a square, then you can have either + or -"?

you had …

v2[squared] = 2.1[squared] + 2(-9.81)(-38)​

… so v2 = ±√(2.1[squared] + 2(-9.81)(-38)) …

both + and - are solutions to that equation :wink:
 
  • #14
I finally got it, thank-you so much!
 

1. What is kinematics?

Kinematics is the branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects without considering the forces that cause the motion.

2. What is the throw-up problem in kinematics?

The throw-up problem is a type of projectile motion problem where an object is thrown straight up into the air and then falls back down due to gravity.

3. How do you solve the throw-up problem?

To solve the throw-up problem, you can use the equations of projectile motion:
- Vertical displacement = initial velocity * time + 0.5 * acceleration * time^2
- Final velocity = initial velocity + acceleration * time
- Time of flight = 2 * initial velocity / acceleration
- Maximum height = initial velocity^2 / (2 * acceleration)
- Range = initial velocity^2 / acceleration

4. What are the assumptions made in solving the throw-up problem?

The assumptions made in solving the throw-up problem are:
- The object is being thrown in a vacuum, with no air resistance
- The acceleration due to gravity is constant and equal to 9.8 m/s^2
- The object is not affected by any external forces besides gravity
- The object is being thrown and landing on the same level surface
- The rotation of the Earth is not taken into account

5. Why is the throw-up problem important in kinematics?

The throw-up problem is important in kinematics because it is a simple and common example of projectile motion, which is a fundamental concept in physics. Understanding how objects move through the air is crucial in many fields, such as sports, engineering, and space exploration. Solving the throw-up problem helps to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for scientific inquiry.

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