Baseball projectile motion question

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the projectile motion of a baseball hit at an angle of 38.4 degrees, clearing a wall 8 meters high, located 104.8 meters away. The initial speed of the ball was determined to be approximately 112 m/s, with a time to reach the wall calculated at about 1.18 seconds. The final speed of the ball upon reaching the wall was found to be around 105 m/s. The calculations involved using kinematic equations and compensating for the initial height of 1.2 meters. Overall, the methods and results presented were aimed at confirming the accuracy of the projectile motion analysis.
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[SOLVED] Baseball projectile motion question

Homework Statement


A ball player hits a home run, and the baseball just clears a wall 8.00 m high located 104.8 m from home plate. The ball is hit at an angle of 38.4 degrees to the horizontal, and air resistance is negligible. Assume the ball is hit at a height of 1.2 m above the ground. The acceleration of gravity is 9.81 m/s^2.
a) What is the initial speed of the ball?
b) How much time does it take for the ball to reach the wall?
c.) Find the speed of the ball when it reaches the wall.

Homework Equations


x(t)-Vo cos(theta)t
y(t)= -.5gt^2 +Vosin(theta)t+yo
V^2 = Vo^2 - 2 g (y - y°)

The Attempt at a Solution


Ok this is what I did...
Let X axis horizontal, and Y axis vertical upward. The equations of the ball are:
x(t) = Vo cos38.4° t
y(t) = - (1/2) g t^2 + Vo sin38.4° t + yo.
When x(t) = 104.8 m , y(t) = 8 m.
Solving : Vo = 33.9 m/s (a) ; t = 3.94 s (b)
(c) Energy's conservation
V^2 = Vo^2 - 2 g (y - y°)
V = 31.88 m/s (c)

I'm not sure if this is right though. I would appreciate any help. I think you may have to compensate for the 1.2 m high starting position.
 
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Show your steps

For part A. How did you get around your unknown: time?
 
Well, I have changed what I think it is since i posted.I tried using the SUVAT equations and I actually compensated for the 1.2 m initial height. See work below:
Horizontal: s=104.8, v=u=Ucos(38.4), t=?
Vertical: s=6.8, a=-9.81, u=Usin(38.4), t=?, v=0
s=vt-0.5a(t^2) (one of the "suvat" equations)
6.8/4.905=t^2
t=1.18s (3sf) (answer b)

back to horizontal...
Ucos(38.4)=s/t=104/1.18 (speed=distance/time)
U=104/1.18cos(38.4)
U=112 m(s^-1) (answer a)

v=112cos(38.4)
v=87.8 m(s^-1)

back to vertical: v=u+at=112sin(38.4)-9.81x1.18 (another suvat equation)
v=58.0 m(s^-1)

overall velocity= [58^2+87.8^2]^0.5 (pythagoras)
=105 m(s^-1) (answer c)
 
Does the above look right?
 
Can anyone help me with this?
 
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