Calculating Final Velocity: Need Help!

AI Thread Summary
An object is launched at a 75-degree angle to pass through a window 3.25 m high, requiring an initial speed of 13.3 m/s. The time of flight calculated using the vertical motion equation is 2.85 seconds. The final vertical velocity was incorrectly calculated as -14.7 m/s, leading to confusion about the correct approach. The horizontal velocity remains constant due to zero horizontal acceleration, and the final speed should be calculated using the Pythagorean theorem with both vertical and horizontal components. Clarification on calculating time and velocity components is needed for accurate results.
theoronhalde
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final velocity...need help!

Homework Statement



An object is to be thrown through a window 3.25 m high a distance 8 m away. It is launched at an angle 75 degree above the horizontal.

The initial launch speed at the specified angle which will allow the projectile to pass through the window is 13.3 m/s.

What is the final speed of the object (that is, the speed at which it flies through the window)?
Y= height
Yo= initial height
Voy= initial speed
Vf= final velocity
g= gravity
t= time

Homework Equations


1)Y= Yo+Voy*t-(1/2)gt^2
2)Vf= Vo+at


3. The Attempt at a Solution

By using the y= yo+Voy*t-(1/2)gt^2 formula,
= 3.25+ (13.3sin75)t-(1/2)(-9.81)t^2
I found the time t=2.85 s

But then the answer i got by using the formula Vf= Vo+at
= 13.3+ (-9.81)(2.85)
= -14.7 m/s
IS wrong!What is my mistake??
 
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Welcome to PF!

Hi theoronhalde ! Welcome to PF! :smile:

(try using the X2 and X2 tags just above the Reply box :wink:)
theoronhalde said:
An object is to be thrown through a window 3.25 m high a distance 8 m away. It is launched at an angle 75 degree above the horizontal.

The initial launch speed at the specified angle which will allow the projectile to pass through the window is 13.3 m/s.

What is the final speed of the object (that is, the speed at which it flies through the window)?

But then the answer i got by using the formula Vf = Vo+at
= 13.3+ (-9.81)(2.85)
= -14.7 m/s
IS wrong!What is my mistake??

Vfy = Voy + at :wink:
 


hi! thanks a lot!

Not sure i understand your answer? Do i have to use the formula you wrote instead of the one i was using to fnd the final velocty? I'm a bit confuse...
 
Last edited:
Yes … you have to deal with the y-components separately. :smile:

(the x-component of velocity, of course is constant :wink:)
 


ok s it's going to be:

Vfy= Voy+at
= 13.3sin75+ (-9.81)(2.85)
= -15.1 m/s

But how come the horizontal velocity be constant? And am I suppose to use
V=Sqrt((Vox^2)+(Vfy^2)) to find that final speed?
 
The horizontal acceleration is zero, so the horizontal velocity must be constant.

And yes, use Pythagoras. :smile:
 


oh ok...i undestand what you are saying but i still end up with a wrong answer...here is what i did:

Vfx= Vox + at (a=0)
=13.3cos75

Vfy= Voy+at
= 13.3sin75 + (9.81)(2.85)
= -15.1


Vf= SQRT( Vfy^2 + Vfx^2)
= 15.5 m/s

The applet says that the answer is wrong :S ??
 
I haven't checked how you got t using Vy, but when I do it using Vx, I don't get 2.85.
 


oh...i'm so lost once again. I tought we should get the time By using:
y= yo+Voy*t-(1/2)gt^2 formula,
= 3.25+ (13.3sin75)t-(1/2)(-9.81)t^2
If not can you explain me how to find the time and how to get the components Vfy and Vfx.
 
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