Calculating Height for Shaun White's Snowboarding Trick

[green123]

Homework Statement

How much height above the half pipe does 85kg Shaun White need to complete the 3.5 second trick?

Homework Equations

d=.5(vi+vf)t
net force= ma
pe=mgh
vf= vi+at

The Attempt at a Solution

no

 

[wbandersonjr]

What kinematics equations do you know? What information does the problem give you, and is there anything else you know? You must try to answer the question before we can help.

 

[gdbb]

You can solve for his exit-velocity using one of your listed equations and the relationship between v_f and v_i, since acceleration and time are both known.

Then use one of the kinematic equations (perhaps one that relates distance to velocity and acceleration? ) to find how high he goes.

 

[green123]

You can solve for his exit-velocity using one of your listed equations and the relationship between v_f and v_i, since acceleration and time are both known.

Then use one of the kinematic equations (perhaps one that relates distance to velocity and acceleration? ) to find how high he goes.

What is the acceleration?

 

[gdbb]

What pulls him back down into the halfpipe? :)

 

[green123]

oooohhhh ookk... Thanks!
so it would be
Vf=0+9.8(3.5)
Vf=34.3
D=.5(0+34.3)3.5
D=60m
right?

 

[gdbb]

oooohhhh ookk... Thanks!
so it would be
Vf=0+9.8(3.5)
Vf=34.3
D=.5(0+34.3)3.5
D=60m
right?

Almost! But not quite. His initial velocity will be the velocity he has when he leaves the halfpipe, so it will not be zero. What's the relationship between the velocity at which he leaves the halfpipe and the velocity at which he re-enters the halfpipe? (Hint: Assume air resistance is negligible and energy is conserved)

Also consider using a different kinematic equation to find the distance (we have velocity and acceleration and want to find his MAXIMUM distance).

 

[green123]

Almost! But not quite. His initial velocity will be the velocity he has when he leaves the halfpipe, so it will not be zero. What's the relationship between the velocity at which he leaves the halfpipe and the velocity at which he re-enters the halfpipe? (Hint: Assume air resistance is negligible and energy is conserved)

Also consider using a different kinematic equation to find the distance (we have velocity and acceleration and want to find his MAXIMUM distance).

is the initial velocity 34.3m/s?

 

[gdbb]

If nothing acts on him except for gravity when he's doing his trick, what can we conclude about his velocity upon re-entering the halfpipe in terms of the velocity when he leaves the halfpipe?

 

[green123]

If nothing acts on him except for gravity when he's doing his trick, what can we conclude about his velocity upon re-entering the halfpipe in terms of the velocity when he leaves the halfpipe?

that his velocity is 9.8m/s

 

[gdbb]

We're not looking for a number for v_i yet -- we'll solve for that later. We want to find a relationship between that and v_f. Does this equation hold true:

v_f = v_i?

Well of course not, because velocity has a direction and magnitude. The directions clearly are opposite, and what can we say about the magnitudes?

 

[green123]

We're not looking for a number for v_i yet -- we'll solve for that later. We want to find a relationship between that and v_f. Does this equation hold true:

v_f = v_i?

Well of course not, because velocity has a direction and magnitude. The directions clearly are opposite, and what can we say about the magnitudes?

so vf =0?

 

[gdbb]

I think I'm doing a bad job at explaining this, so I'll help you out. If all energy is conserved, then at the height of the exit of the halfpipe between t = 0 and t = 3.5,

\Delta E = 0

And thus,

\Delta KE = \frac{1}{2} m(v_f^2 - v_i^2) = 0

Which, as a result, gives us:

|v_f| = |v_i|

The only difference is that v_i is going the opposite direction, so:

v_f = -v_i

Now try to solve for v_f numerically using your kinematic equation.

 

[green123]

ok, i think i got it, thanks for your help!