Calculating Delta h for a Projectile Fired at 50 Degrees without Air Resistance

  • Thread starter Thread starter a2k22
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Confusing
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the vertical distance Delta h for a projectile fired at a 50-degree angle with an initial velocity of 9.6 m/s, neglecting air resistance. Participants emphasize the need to break down the initial velocity into its components and apply the appropriate equations of motion for both vertical and horizontal directions. The key equation discussed is y = Vy*(t) - (1/2)gt^2 for the projectile's motion, while the straight-line motion uses a constant velocity approach. Several calculations are shared, leading to varying results for Delta h, with participants confirming their methods and answers. The final values discussed indicate a Delta h of approximately 2.88 m for the straight line and 1.86 m for the projectile path, highlighting the importance of accurate calculations in projectile motion.
a2k22
Messages
21
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A cannon fires a 0.626 kg shell with initial
velocity vi = 9.6 m/s in the direction θ = 50◦
above the horizontal.

The shell’s trajectory curves downward be-
cause of gravity, so at the time t = 0.392 s the
shell is below the straight line by some verti-
cal distance Delta h. Your task is to calculate the
distance Delta h in the absence of air resistance.
What is Delta h?

Homework Equations



I have no idea.

The Attempt at a Solution


I started out by trying to by using using distance y equals initial distance y plus initial y velocity times time plus one half accel times time squared. I plugged in the numbers for where accel was 9.8 (for the parabola) and accel was 0 (for a straight line).

My teacher has not taught us this, and I'm very impressed we've gotten this far
 
Physics news on Phys.org
i think you are on the right track...
i don't quite understand the question but ill try give you a hand

its projectile motion so u need those equations
and you are dealing in the y direction only...

have you broken up the initial velocity?
 
No, why would I need to?
 
a2k22 said:
I started out by trying to by using using distance y equals initial distance y plus initial y velocity times time plus one half accel times time squared. I plugged in the numbers for where accel was 9.8 (for the parabola) and accel was 0 (for a straight line).

My teacher has not taught us this, and I'm very impressed we've gotten this far

Did he/she teach you about finding the components of the initial velocity? (use the angle)
Or about writing two equations of motion, one for vertical direction (accelerated motion) and one for horizontal direction (uniform speed)?
For this problem you don't really need to look at the horizontal direction. Write eq of motion for vertical motion, once with accleration and a second time for the hypothetical case when a=0.
 
Yes, I was taught about how to find v in y direction and such. What equation should I use?
 
you will only need Vy it seems here

y = Vy*(t) - (1/2)gt^2
 
Okay I got 2.13 m. Then would I do what I did before, plug it in with the accel being equal to zero, then subtract the two?
 
this straight line... if it is the path of the shell with a=0 then yes that is right
 
Can I get an answer to check mine with?
 
  • #10
okies u got to post yours first cause I am not allowed to give u the answer but :)
 
  • #11
ah not cool. I got 1.86.

It was 2.88 (straight line)-1.86 (parabola)
HOwever I feel I completely screwed up
 
  • #12
ok how did u get ur answer for the parabola?\
you had 2.13m above and its changeD?
 
  • #13
For the parabola, I set everything the same cept for the accel, which became 0, so i basically had dist= vel * time.

And I don't know where i got 2.88, and now I'm getting 3.63. Confirmation...?
 
  • #14
y = Vy*(t) - (1/2)gt^2

u have Vy i take it already
you know t
g = 9.81m/s^2
sub it in
(that is the parabola equation)

for the linear one
g = 0
 
  • #15
can you confirm my answer?
 
  • #16
2.88 is when a=0
2.13 when a=g
 
  • #17
that is what i got

so now subtract the linear from the parabola
 
  • #18
Thank you guys so much
 
Back
Top