How Fast Does a Ball Roll Off a Table?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the velocity of a ball rolling off a table and the distance it travels. The ball takes 0.178584 seconds to reach the end of the table, covering a distance of 14.016 cm. The table height is 86.49 cm, which must be converted to meters for accurate calculations. Participants emphasize the importance of considering both horizontal and vertical velocities to determine the ball's trajectory and final landing distance.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, particularly projectile motion.
  • Familiarity with kinematic equations, specifically y=vit+.5(g)(t)² and x=vt.
  • Ability to perform unit conversions, such as converting centimeters to meters.
  • Knowledge of horizontal and vertical velocity components in motion analysis.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of projectile motion in physics.
  • Learn how to apply kinematic equations to real-world problems.
  • Practice unit conversion techniques for physics calculations.
  • Explore the effects of gravity on falling objects and their horizontal motion.
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, educators teaching mechanics, and anyone interested in understanding projectile motion and its calculations.

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1. The Lab
The ball reaches the end of the table in .178584 s, a distance of 14.016 cm. The table is 86.49 cm tall. What is the ball's velocity and far will it roll?

Homework Equations


y=vit+.5(g)(t)2
x=vt

The Attempt at a Solution


I assumed vi was 0 and got that time=4.201, but that didn't seem to make sense. Should I convert the 86.49 into .8649 m? Because then I get that time=.4 ish and that can't be right...
Edit: Do I multiply the time (4.20) by vhorizontal? 4.20*(14.016/.1785)=32.98428?
 
Last edited:
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The question is rather unclear. Is the velocity when the ball reaches the ground meant, or when it leaves the table?. Does "and far will it roll?" mean how far from the table will it land?
You certainly need to convert the distance to meters to get the falling time. Why is .4ish not right for the time? You do need to multiply the falling time with the horzontal speed to get the distance from the table. Watch the units.

To answer the velocity question you need to include both horizontal and vertical speed.
 

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