Projectile Motion Help: Launch Velocity and Distance Calculation

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the launch velocity and distance of a projectile launched from a spring-loaded pipe at a 45-degree angle. The user initially calculated the launch velocity to be 23 m/s but struggled with determining the horizontal distance, mistakenly arriving at 155 meters instead of the expected 50-60 meters. Key equations for projectile motion were discussed, including the decomposition of initial velocity into horizontal and vertical components, and the application of kinematic equations to solve for displacement.

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Homework Statement


a ball is launched vertically from a spring loaded pipe at ground level, and it lands in 4.7 seconds. We need to figure out the launch velocity and how far the ball will land if fired at 45 deg angle.

Homework Equations


I am using the following formulas, not sure if they are the correct ones to use.
V= -1/2gt
dy= Voyt + 1/2ayt (squared)
dx = Voxt + 1/2axt(squared)


The Attempt at a Solution


I calculated the launch velocity to be 23m/s
however I am having trouble calculating how far the ball lands if launched at 45deg angle.
The answer should be between 50-60 meters but I get an answer of 155.

Could someone please help me figure this out, please show work so I can understand. Thanks
 
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Erasing this for confusing language and a mistake:redface:, sorry
 
Last edited:
Erasing due to incorrect info
 
Last edited:
How about this, I think I need to proofread my posts a little better, I actually might have made a mistake in that one :redface:

Do you agree that, for a projectile launched at an angle theta, you can decompose an initial velocity as such:
v_{0x}=v_0cos(\theta)
v_{0y}=v_0sin(\theta)

Well, then, from the equation to follow we can calculate the initial y velocity (because initial y location is known, it is 0, y acceleration is known, it is g, and t is known, it is 4.7s, and its final location is known, which is when y is equal to 0 again, you should graph this function, it is a parabola)
y=y_0+v_{0y}t+\frac{1}{2}a_yt^2
Then, with that figured out, we can get the total velocity using and then the x velocity in a few steps using those first two equations I gave you.

After solving for the initial x direction velocity, you can use the equation
x=x_0+v_{0x}t+\frac{1}{2}a_xt^2
to find the total x displacement. We also know the initial x location, 0, and the x acceleration, 0 (because we have no air resistance), and now we know the initial x velocity from the work before.

Does that help?

It is important to realize that velocity is a vector, it has magnitude and direction. In a kinematics problem we can treat the x and y directions as independent and decompose a velocity vector into its constituent x and y components with the first two equations I gave you, and then use them in independent kinematic equations.
 
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Thank you, that is very helfpul.:smile:
 
Please delete that quote so we don't confuse anyone who might end up here
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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