How High Does the Rock Go When Thrown from a Building?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving projectile motion, specifically analyzing the height a rock reaches when thrown from a building. The building's height is given as 16.3 meters, and the rock is thrown with an initial velocity of 31.6 m/s at an angle of 28.1 degrees above the horizontal, with air resistance ignored.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss breaking down the initial velocity into its x and y components and question the setup of the equations of motion. There are inquiries about the sign of acceleration due to gravity and the implications of multiple time values in the calculations. Some participants suggest focusing solely on the y-direction for maximum height calculations and emphasize the importance of understanding the motion dynamics.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the problem, with participants providing hints and guidance on how to approach the calculations. Some have attempted to solve for time and height but express uncertainty about their results. The discussion reflects a mix of interpretations and attempts to clarify the physics concepts involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of projectile motion and the effects of gravity, with some expressing confusion over the application of formulas and the physical meaning of the results. There is a focus on ensuring the correct interpretation of the problem's requirements.

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A man stands on the roof of a building of height 16.3m and throws a rock with a velocity of magnitude 31.6m/s at an angle of 28.1 degrees above the horizontal. You can ignore air resistance

A.) Calculate the maximum height above the roof reached by the rock. Take free fall acceleration to be 9.80 m/s^2.

ok first i found vectors x and y at 28.1 degrees
cos(28)*31.6 = vector x
sin(28)*31.6 = vector y

x = 27.8752
y= 14.883

using this formula:
x(t) = x(0) + v(0)t + 1/2at^2
x(t) = 16.3 + (31.6m/s)t + 1/2(-9.8)t^2 <--- is that right how i set it up? is a a negative or positive number? and will there be two times? i know I am doing something wrong, i just don't know what...if i solve for t now, there will be two times, which i don't know what to do with it.

B.) Calculate the magnitude of the velocity of the rock just before it strikes the ground. Take free fall acceleration to be 9.80 m/s^2
 
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Here are some hints:

Remember,
[tex]V_{y} = V_{o}\sin(\theta)[/tex]
[tex]V_{x} = V_{o}\cos(\theta)[/tex]
[tex]V_{y} = 0[/tex] at max height
[tex]V_{x}[/tex] is constant (this means same value always)

x(t) = 16.3 + (31.6m/s)t + 1/2(9.8)t^2 <--- is that right how i set it up? is a a negative or positive number? and will there be two times? i know I am doing something wrong, i just don't know what...

9.8 must be put -9.8 because is pointing down that acceleration. And also plug in your [tex]V_{y}[/tex] value instead of just the initial [tex]V_{o}[/tex]. Remember Projectile Motion it's just a mix of Free Fall Motion with Constant Velocity Motion. Read the hints!.

-Cyclovenom
 
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anyway, i solved for t and got 0,6.4489s

then plugged t in the position formula agian
x(t) = x(0) + v(0)t + 1/2at^2
and got 16.30251507
but the problem only wants the part above the buliding, so i minus 16.3 from it and got .0025 is that correct? (seems incorrect)
 
To find the maximum height, you should only be concerned with motion in the y-direction. Physically, you want to think of how long will it take for gravity to slow down the ball until it stops. Once you find this time, you can plug it in the y analog the equation you have in part a to find the maximum height.

In part b, you want to first calculate the y component of velocity as it hits the ground. When the rock is thrown upward and then comes back down to the initial height (16.3m), you should recognize the velocity in the y-direction (vy) at that point has the same numerical value as the initital vy but is negative since it's heading downward. You can use the following equation to find the final vy:

[tex]v_{y}^2 = v_{yo}^2 + 2.0 a_{y}(y-yo)[/tex]

Now, using vx which doesn't change throughout the motion, you can now solve for the velocity magnitude
 
Ok let me give you a little help.

[tex]Y_{max} :[/tex]
[tex]V_{y} = 0[/tex]
So using this equation:
[tex]V = V_{o} + at[/tex]
[tex]0 = V_{y} - gt_{max}[/tex]
[tex]t_{max} = \frac{V_{y}}{g}[/tex]

Now using this equation:
[tex]Y = Y_{o} + V_{o}t + \frac{1}{2}at^2[/tex]
[tex]Y_{max} = Y_{0} + V_{y}t_{max} -\frac{1}{2}gt_{max}^2[/tex]

Combining Equations:
[tex]Y_{max} = Y_{0} + V_{y}\frac{V_{y}}{g} - \frac{1}{2}g(\frac{V_{y}}{g})^2[/tex]

[tex]Y_{max} = Y_{0} + \frac{V_{y}^2}{g} -\frac{1}{2}\frac{V_{y}^2}{g}[/tex]

-Cyclovenom
 
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