Max. height and range problem I can't crack

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves projectile motion on a distant planet where a golfer drives a ball at a specific speed and angle. The challenge is to determine the maximum height and range of the ball without knowing the gravitational constant for that planet.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the difficulty of solving the problem without a known gravitational constant and explore how to derive it from given information. Some participants suggest using known equations for range and maximum height while questioning the assumptions about gravity on the distant planet.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the relationships between the variables involved, with some participants providing equations and others expressing confusion about their calculations. Clarifications regarding the gravitational constant and its implications for the problem are being discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the range on the distant planet is four times that on Earth, leading to a conclusion that the gravitational acceleration on the planet is one fourth that of Earth's. There is mention of the due date for the problem being missed, which adds a layer of urgency to the discussion.

DuffBeer
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19.[2pt]
On a distant planet, golf is just as popular as it is on earth. A golfer tees off and drives the ball 4.00 times as far as he would have on earth, given the same initial velocities on both planets. The ball is launched at a speed of 42.6m/s at an angle of 28.2o above the horizontal. When the ball lands, it is at the same level as the tee. On the distant planet, what is the maximum height of the ball?
Answer:

20.[2pt]
What is the range of the ball?
Answer:


its so hard to do without Earth gravity... i can't figure it out! :-( please help!
 
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You're right, it is hard to do without a gravitational constant. Can you find the gravitational constant from the info you have?
 
The range is: [itex]R = \frac {v_0^2 \sin {2\theta}}{2g}[/itex] so it's easy to infer that g on the planet is one fourth that on Earth.

The maximum height is [itex]H = \frac {v_0^2 \sin ^2 \theta}{2g}[/itex] and you should have no trouble doing the rest.
 
Tide said:
The range is: [itex]R = \frac {v_0^2 \sin {2\theta}}{2g}[/itex] so it's easy to infer that g on the planet is one fourth that on Earth.

The maximum height is [itex]H = \frac {v_0^2 \sin ^2 \theta}{2g}[/itex] and you should have no trouble doing the rest.

the trig identity is sin2(thet) is 2sin(thet)cos(thet) right?

my ansewrs not coming out correct... i quadroople checked the algebra
 
It's difficult for us to comment on what you have done when you haven't shown us what you have done.
 
HallsofIvy said:
It's difficult for us to comment on what you have done when you haven't shown us what you have done.

oh, sorry.

took R = v0^2 * sin2(theta) /2g

turned it into v0^2 * 2 * sin(theta) * cos(theta) / 2g (trig identity)

crossed out the 2s

plugged in 28 for theta, 42.6 for v0, and 2.45 (.25*9.8) for G. - solved.

got 307.042 meters - got the question wrong...

i guess it doesn't matter now because i missed the due date for the problem, but id still like to figure out how to do it for future reference.

im not exactly clear on why g is .25...
 
Start with
[tex]R = \frac {v_0^2}{2g} \sin 2\theta[/tex]
and with identical initial speed and angles just set up the proportion
[tex]\frac {R_1}{R_2} = \frac {g_2}{g_1}[/tex]
Your statement was that [itex]R_2 = 4 R_1[/itex] so [itex]g_2 = \frac {1}{4} g_1[/itex].
 
Tide said:
Start with
[tex]R = \frac {v_0^2}{2g} \sin 2\theta[/tex]
and with identical initial speed and angles just set up the proportion
[tex]\frac {R_1}{R_2} = \frac {g_2}{g_1}[/tex]
Your statement was that [itex]R_2 = 4 R_1[/itex] so [itex]g_2 = \frac {1}{4} g_1[/itex].

ohhh... thanks for clearing that up! :smile:
 

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