Finding Height to Land Golf Ball 1m Away: Need Advice

  • Thread starter Shiz Stain
  • Start date
In summary, Homework Equations states that Vf² = Vi² + 2a (displacement), and that the velocity, displacement, and time needed to reach a certain point are all determined by the acceleration.
  • #1
Shiz Stain
19
0

Homework Statement



This is a little confusing for me but I am pretty sure I need to look at it in a different way so I am asking for some advice here is the situation...

2gsocj4.jpg
Basically I have to find the height so the golf ball goes down the ramp and lands on the ground exactly 1meter away from the table.

Homework Equations



For equations I really don't know which one to use I was thinking about using

Vf² = Vi² + 2a (displacement)

The Attempt at a Solution



I know the height from the table to the ground is 92cm
The table top is 204cm longs
When the golf ball is released it rolls on the table top for 2cm and then falls to the ground
The place where the golf ball lands is 1meter away
The golf ball is 45g
the system is frictionless
I think gravity plays a part on how to solve it so 9.8 = g

I still didn't use the equation yet because I'm not really sure if its the right now, I was probably thinking I might need to use trig functions because It resemebles a triangle, but if i not I still have no clue on which one.

Any help on this would be highly appreciated, I don't want the answer because to me its more important I know the process on how to get the answer, rather I would just like an equation to use and little hints on things.***Sorry about the wrong title, its suppose to be "Finding Height", and if it helps we are currently learning about momentum

Thanks
 
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  • #2
First figure how long it takes a ball to drop .92m.

If you know how long it takes to drop, you know how much horizontal velocity it needs to get there.

Once you know how fast it needs to be, then figure how much acceleration it needs down the ramp.

As it turns out the acceleration you need is the same percentage of gravity, that the height x is to the length of the ramp. (You should satisfy yourself on that point.)
 
  • #3
By using the conservation of energy, you can find the velocity with which the golf ball reaches the table top.
What will be the direction of the velocity of the golf ball?
When the golf ball leaves the table, what will be its direction?
How much time it takes to reach the ground?
 
  • #4
Ah sorry it took a while for me to reply, and thanks for the tips so far I got this far

Vf² = Vi² + 2a (displacement)
Vf² = 0 + 2 (10 or 9.8) (0.92)
Vf² = 20 (0.92)
Vf² = 18.4
Vf = 4.3m/s

Now I am thinking I am suppose to find time so I plan to use this equation:

displacement = Vi (t) + 1/2 a t²

0.92 = 0 + 1/2 (10) t²
0.92 = 5 t²
0.2 = t²
0.45 s = t

OR i was maybe thinking since I have the velocity now I can find momentum and use this equation :

delta P = Force delta t

Which would be like this when I worked it out

p =mv
p = 0.045kg (4.3 -0 )
p = 0.2 kg m/s

delta p = F delta t
0.2 = 0.045kg (10 or 9.8) t
0.2 = 0.45 t
t = 0.4s if I am on the right path so far let me know, but to be honest I am really getting confused and would like a little more help

Thanks
 
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  • #5
No. Your first step is not the Yellow Brick Road to the Solution.

Your second step however should have yielded you useful insight.

Rather than churning out all the equations you know, think about what you need.

In your second step you apparently found the time that it takes for the object to fall. By your drawing note that the velocity at the bottom of the ramp gets straightened out to be all horizontal, or at least I presume that there is enough flat table to straighten it out. If your horizontal velocity then is determined by the speed at the bottom of the ramp, then you can figure out how fast it needs to be to go 1 m.

You have .45s (Using 9.8 I get .433s) to go 1 meter. How fast does it need to be then?

Knowing how fast it needs to be then you can figure what acceleration gives that to you over the distance of the ramp.
 
  • #6
Ah ok I think I know what you are trying to say

You want me to find the acceleration then? If so here it is

a = delta v / delta t
a = 4.3 - 0 / 0.45
a = 4.3 / 0.45
a = 9.5 m/s ²

If not could explain it in simpler terms or tell me what I need to actually do Thanks
 
  • #7
Not exactly.

The ball has to land where? 1 m away from the table?

How long have you calculated it to drop from the top of the table to the floor? .45s looks to me.

What velocity gives you 1m covered in .45 sec?

You must have that answer before you can talk about any acceleration - i.e. how you got the ball to that velocity.
 
  • #8
What do you mean what velocity gives me 1m covered in 0.45s? Is it final velocity? If so then i just have to plug it in and solve for Vf?
 
  • #9
Shiz Stain said:
What do you mean what velocity gives me 1m covered in 0.45s? Is it final velocity? If so then i just have to plug it in and solve for Vf?

Horizontally it has to travel 1 m in the .45s it has to fall. Is that not correct?

When it comes down the ramp it will have a velocity that when it runs over the 2cm lavel part of the table makes the velocity all horizontal doesn't it?
 
  • #10
well the thing is, when it golf ball goes down the ramp and travels 2cm across the table and then falls, it has to land exactly 1m away from the table.

So what do I have to find then now? Do i just use all the information I have and find the x ( the height for the ramp) ? Or is there something else I have to find
 
  • #11
Shiz Stain said:
well the thing is, when it golf ball goes down the ramp and travels 2cm across the table and then falls, it has to land exactly 1m away from the table.

So what do I have to find then now? Do i just use all the information I have and find the x ( the height for the ramp) ? Or is there something else I have to find

Until you answer what the horizontal velocity is off the table, you won't be able to solve the problem, because that condition must be met for it to hit 1 m away.
 
  • #12
So I am guessing the horizontal velocity is the same as Vf

vf² = vi² + 2a displacement
vf ²= 0 + 2 (10) (1.02)
vf ²= 20 (1.02)
vf² = 20.4
vf = 4.5 m/s

Is that it? Or is it something else

reason I am using 1.02m is because I added the 1m + 2cm the golf ball travels on the table if I just use the 1m instead the answer for vf = 4.47 = 4.5
 
  • #13
Shiz Stain said:
So I am guessing the horizontal velocity is the same as Vf

vf² = vi² + 2a displacement
vf ²= 0 + 2 (10) (1.02)
vf ²= 20 (1.02)
vf² = 20.4
vf = 4.5 m/s

Is that it? Or is it something else

reason I am using 1.02m is because I added the 1m + 2cm the golf ball travels on the table if I just use the 1m instead the answer for vf = 4.47 = 4.5

No. No. and No.

How far will the ball travel horizontally at 4.5 m/s after .45 sec? It will land 2 m from the bottom of the table is how far. So forget trying to drag that result back into your thinking at every turn because 4.5m/s gives the wrong result guaranteed.

You need to answer the question about how fast it must be going to only go 1 m in .45 sec before you can worry about how it got to going that fast.
 
  • #14
how fast it must be going I guess you mean the speed?

So its

s = d/t
s = 1 m / 0.45
s = 2.2 m/s

Is that the answer to your question now?
 
  • #15
Shiz Stain said:
how fast it must be going I guess you mean the speed?

So its

s = d/t
s = 1 m / 0.45
s = 2.2 m/s

Is that the answer to your question now?

That means then that at the bottom of your ramp it must be going at 2.2 m/s. Now you can figure the acceleration down the ramp starting from rest.
 
  • #16
So its doing down the ramp I just the distance of the ramp?

displacement = Vi t + 1/2 a t²
2.15 m = 0 + 0.5 a 2.2 ²
2.15 m = 0.5 *4.84 a
2.15 m = 2.42 a
a = 0.9 m/s
 
  • #17
Shiz Stain said:
So its doing down the ramp I just the distance of the ramp?

displacement = Vi t + 1/2 a t²
2.15 m = 0 + 0.5 a 2.2 ²
2.15 m = 0.5 *4.84 a
2.15 m = 2.42 a
a = 0.9 m/s

And where did the time come from?

Don't you want to use this equation that were so eager to use before?
Vf² = Vi² + 2a (displacement)
 
  • #18
Ah man, i was thinking about using it but every time I did you said it was wrong haha,

vf² = Vi² + 2a (2.15m)
4.3 = 0 + 4.3 a
18.5 = 4.3 a
a = 4.3 m/s²But i think the vf i used is wrong i think it should be something like this

vf² = Vi² + 2a (displacement)
vf² = 0 + 2 (9.8) (2.15m)
vf² = 42.14
vf = 6.5 m/s

vf² = Vi² + 2a (2.15m)
6.5² = 0 + 2 a (2.15 m)
42.3 = 4.3 a
a = 9.8 m/s²
 
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  • #19
Shiz Stain said:
Ah man, i was thinking about using it but every time I did you said it was wrong haha,

vf² = Vi² + 2a (2.15m)
4.3 = 0 + 4.3 a
18.5 = 4.3 a
a = 4.3 m/s²


But i think the vf i used is wrong i think it should be something like this

vf² = Vi² + 2a (displacement)
vf² = 0 + 2 (9.8) (2.15m)
vf² = 42.14
vf = 6.5 m/s

vf² = Vi² + 2a (2.15m)
6.5² = 0 + 2 a (2.15 m)
42.3 = 4.3 a
a = 9.8 m/s²

No. You found Vf earlier.

It is 2.2 m/s.

You keep discarding what you've already found.
 
  • #20
Oh man, this is really making me feel slow sorry for the trouble

vf² = Vi² + 2a (2.15m)
2.2² = 0 + 2 a (2.15 m)
4.84 = 4.3 a
a = 1.13 m/s²
 
  • #21
Shiz Stain said:
Oh man, this is really making me feel slow sorry for the trouble

vf² = Vi² + 2a (2.15m)
2.2² = 0 + 2 a (2.15 m)
4.84 = 4.3 a
a = 1.13 m/s²

OK. If gravity is 10, as you used it in your earlier calculation to come up with the .45sec to fall, then what angle must the ramp be?

In general you should know that acceleration down an incline is g*sinθ.

So ...
 
  • #22
So the acceleration I found was correct?

So far i got this

g = 9.8 or 10 m/s²
t = 0.45 s
vf = 2.2 m/s
a = 1.13 m/s²

So what your telling me now is that I have to find the angle of the ramp?
 
  • #23
Shiz Stain said:
So the acceleration I found was correct?

So far i got this

g = 9.8 or 10 m/s²
t = 0.45 s
vf = 2.2 m/s
a = 1.13 m/s²

So what your telling me now is that I have to find the angle of the ramp?

That's right. That's what I'm telling you.
 
  • #24
Um, could you tell me the formula to find the angle? I seemed to have forgot that one
 
  • #26
so the angle is 10 or 0.2?
 
  • #27
Well you have

a = g*sinθ

And you know that sinθ = x/d

so...

a = g*x/d means that

x = a*d/g
 
  • #28
Ah ok this is what I did

a =g * sin x
x = a * d / g
x = 1.13 * 2.15 / 9.8
x = 1.13 * 0.22
x = 0.25
 
  • #29
Shiz Stain said:
Ah ok this is what I did

a =g * sin x
x = a * d / g
x = 1.13 * 2.15 / 9.8
x = 1.13 * 0.22
x = 0.25

It's not a big thing, but once you start using g as 10 you should be consistent. Using it as 10 in one place and 9.8 in another is not a good practice.

Now that you know the way to do it I would suggest going back and using 9.8 all the way through.

But at least you should now understand the path to solution. In the future you can save yourself a lot of effort if you think about what you need and then think about what you have and figure a method to get the answer, rather than reflexively plugging in whatever numbers you have about into whatever equations might be covered in homework.
 
  • #30
Oh ok will do, just one question I now treat this as a trig equation and do this

sin(A) = opposite / hypotenuse
sin (0.25) = X / 2.15 m
0.25 * 2.15 = x
0.53 m =x

x = 53cm or 0.53 m
 
  • #31
Shiz Stain said:
Oh ok will do, just one question I now treat this as a trig equation and do this

sin(A) = opposite / hypotenuse
sin (0.25) = X / 2.15 m
0.25 * 2.15 = x
0.53 m =x

x = 53cm or 0.53 m

No. X was already your answer directly.

X = .25m using your numbers.
 
  • #32
ah ok thanks for the help

so when the ramp is at 0.25m and the golf ball is released and goes down the ramp it will land 1 m away from the table.

Thanks for the help really appreciate it and next time will try to look at a problem in different ways, but the good news is you helped me on how to do this and I probably have all these equations memorized by now hahathanks for the help ^^
 

1. How do you measure the height of a golf ball landing 1m away?

The height of a golf ball landing 1m away can be measured using a measuring device such as a ruler or measuring tape. Place the measuring device on the ground where the ball landed and measure the distance from the ground to the bottom of the ball.

2. What factors can affect the height of a golf ball landing 1m away?

There are several factors that can affect the height of a golf ball landing 1m away, including the angle and speed of the shot, wind conditions, and the type of club used. The surface the ball lands on can also impact the height, as a softer surface may cause the ball to sink in more, resulting in a lower landing height.

3. Can the height of a golf ball landing 1m away be calculated mathematically?

Yes, the height of a golf ball landing 1m away can be calculated using the principles of projectile motion and basic trigonometry. By knowing the angle and speed of the shot, as well as the distance the ball traveled, the height can be determined using the formula for maximum height in projectile motion.

4. Are there any techniques or tools to help improve the accuracy of measuring the height of a golf ball landing 1m away?

One technique that can help improve the accuracy of measuring the height of a golf ball landing 1m away is to use a tripod or stand to hold the measuring device in place. This can prevent any movement or shaking that may occur when measuring by hand. Additionally, using a laser rangefinder can provide more precise measurements than a traditional measuring tape.

5. Why is it important to know the height of a golf ball landing 1m away?

Knowing the height of a golf ball landing 1m away can provide valuable information for golfers, coaches, and scientists studying the physics of golf. It can help determine the effectiveness of different shot techniques and equipment, as well as provide insights into the aerodynamics of a golf ball in flight. Additionally, measuring the height can help golfers improve their accuracy and consistency on the course.

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