Projectile Motion Help: Calculating Vo, V, Angle of Launch and Angle of Impact

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a projectile motion problem involving a water rocket that traveled 30.2 meters in 1.73 seconds. Participants are exploring how to calculate the initial velocity (Vo), final velocity (V), angle of launch, and angle of impact based on the given data.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants attempt to derive equations relating distance, time, and angles using trigonometric relationships. Others question the assumptions made about the velocities at different points in the projectile's path, particularly at the peak of the trajectory.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing calculations and others expressing confusion about specific steps and assumptions. There is a mix of interpretations regarding the velocities at different stages of the projectile's flight.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of dividing the projectile motion into halves to analyze the motion at different stages, which raises questions about the validity of assuming zero velocity at the peak and the implications for calculating final velocity.

ballahboy
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hi I am new to the board..
my class recently did a lab using water rockets as projections. Our rocket went 30.2m in 1.73 seconds. can u guys help me find Vo, V, angle of launch and angle of impact? i need help on this a lot. can u guys also show me the steps in doing this.
thanks
 
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30.2 m in th x direction?
 
If so

this may work
I am tired so please forgive me if I error

[tex]30.2=Vo*cos(\theta)t[/tex]

[tex]let A = Vo*cos(\theta)=\frac{30.2}{1.73}[/tex]

[tex]0=Vo sin (\theta) - g\frac{t}{2}[/tex]

[tex]let B = g\frac{t}{2}=Vo sin (\theta)[/tex]

[tex]Vo=\sqrt{A^2+B^2} = \sqrt{ (\frac{30.2}{1.73})^2+(g\frac{t}{2})^2) }[/tex]

[tex]Vo = apprx: 19.406[/tex]Keep exact value call C

[tex]30.2=Vo*cos(\theta)t[/tex]
[tex]30.2=C*cos(\theta)1.73[/tex]

[tex]\frac{30.2}{C*1.73}=cos(\theta)[/tex]

[tex]cos^{-1}(\frac{30.2}{C*1.73})=(\theta)=approx 25.9 degrees[/tex]= angle of lanuch

angle of impact should be 154.0 from outside
impact should simply be

[tex]V=Vo+at[/tex]

take it from when projectile is at max height onward

[tex]V=0-g\frac{t}{2}[/tex]
[tex]V=-8.477 m/s[/tex]
 
Last edited:
ballahboy said:
hi I am new to the board..
my class recently did a lab using water rockets as projections. Our rocket went 30.2m in 1.73 seconds. can u guys help me find Vo, V, angle of launch and angle of impact? i need help on this a lot. can u guys also show me the steps in doing this.
thanks

Summary

Vo, V, angle of launch and angle of impact

Vo: approx 19.41 m/s
V= approx -8.477 m/s
Angle of Launch approx 25.9 degrees
Angle of Impact approx 154.1 degrees
 
wow thank u so much
 
sorry I am still confused, how did u get this 0=(Vo sin theta)-g*t/2

also y is Vo=0 at the bottom but we proved it was 19.41?
 
Last edited:
ballahboy said:
sorry I am still confused, how did u get this 0=(Vo sin theta)-g*t/2

also y is Vo=0 at the bottom but we proved it was 19.41?

We divide the projectile motion in half and only examine the last half of the trip... since it is a smooth parapbolic path, the time it takes to go from the top to the bottom will be half the total time.

When you examine it at the top peak of its height to the bottom, at the peak the Vo will be zero because there is no velecity.

so then to get V you would have the velocity of impact you would get V=Vo-gt... but t in this instance is the total t in half. so V=0-gt/2


-------------------------------------
for
[tex]0=Vo sin (\theta) - g\frac{t}{2}[/tex]

I did the same dividing stat, I just decided to examine the first half of the trip.
We know the final velocity will be 0 at the top so I just solved it that way... again t would be in half this time.
 

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