# Calculating acceleration due to gravity on a planet

#### Bryon

1. Homework Statement

The data is taken from a graph. The initial velocity is 31m/s. I found the horizontal velocity to be 21m/s. The time the ball travels is 5 seconds. The total distance the ball travelled is 105m. The ball lands at the same vertical level at which it starts. Air resistance can be neglected.

2. Homework Equations

Im pretty sure I have to use this equation, where t= 2.5.

v = v(initial) + at

I used the pythagoreum theorem to find the initial vertical velocity to be 22.8m/s. Then divided it by 2.5. What I came up with, -9.12, which is wrong.

I just cant find the acceleration due to gravity. It looks straight forward but I am missing a step. Any ideas?

Thanks!

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#### kuruman

Homework Helper
Gold Member
Your method appears to be correct and the answer follows from the numbers that you gave. If the answer is incorrect, then you need to make sure that you read the graph correctly. When you say "the initial velocity is 31 m/s", you mean the initial speed is 31 m/s, right?

#### Bryon

Here is a link to the graph, which plots the velocity over time (sorry i didnt think to add it)

https://wug-s.physics.uiuc.edu/cgi/courses/shell/common/showme.pl?cc/DuPage/phys2111/fall/homework/Ch-03-04/golfball_plot/golfball_plot-1.jpg [Broken]

Thanks for the help!

Last edited by a moderator:

#### Bryon

Ahh, it was +9.12. However, I am not sure as to why it is positive.