Calculating Maximum Height of a Sliding Frisbee on a Sloped Roof

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a Frisbee sliding up a sloped roof after being thrown at a speed of 15.0 m/s. The roof has a slope of 39.0°, and the Frisbee slides a distance of 10.0 m before entering free-fall. The coefficient of kinetic friction is given as 0.380, and the goal is to determine the maximum height reached by the Frisbee above the point of impact.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the interpretation of the Frisbee's motion along the incline and question whether it moves diagonally or vertically. There are inquiries about the Frisbee's speed upon impact and whether it retains its initial speed while sliding up the roof. Some suggest calculating the net force and acceleration as part of the analysis.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively exploring the problem, with some providing calculations and others questioning the assumptions made about forces acting on the Frisbee. There is a mix of interpretations regarding the components of forces involved, particularly the x-component of gravity. Guidance has been offered regarding the setup of equations, but no consensus on the final approach has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the importance of considering the x-component of gravity in their calculations. There is also mention of imposed homework rules that may limit the types of solutions discussed.

shiri
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One side of the roof of a building slopes up at 39.0°. A student throws a Frisbee onto the roof. It strikes with a speed of 15.0 m/s and does not bounce, but slides straight up the incline. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the plastic and the roof is 0.380. The Frisbee slides 10.0 m up the roof to its peak, where it goes into free-fall, following a parabolic trajectory with negligible air resistance. Determine the maximum height the Frisbee reaches above the point where it struck the roof.


I think this one is the hardest question I have seen yet. In this question it says
the frisbee slides 10.0m up the roof to its peek, does it mean frisbee goes up diagonally
not vertically. If it goes diagonally I got the wrong answer for it. So how I can solve
this problem? Also, if a frisbee strikes the roof, does a frisbee stays 15.0m/s or it was
instantaneously slows down after it hits the roof?
 
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shiri said:
I think this one is the hardest question I have seen yet. In this question it says
the frisbee slides 10.0m up the roof to its peek, does it mean frisbee goes up diagonally
not vertically.
Yes. It slides up the roof, so it moves along the incline of the roof.
If it goes diagonally I got the wrong answer for it. So how I can solve
this problem?
Find the net force on the frisbee as it slides up. Then you can find the acceleration and its speed as it flies off.
Also, if a frisbee strikes the roof, does a frisbee stays 15.0m/s or it was
instantaneously slows down after it hits the roof?
I would assume that the frisbee loses no speed when it hits the roof--its speed when it begins sliding up the roof is 15 m/s.
 
Doc Al said:
Yes. It slides up the roof, so it moves along the incline of the roof.

Find the net force on the frisbee as it slides up. Then you can find the acceleration and its speed as it flies off.

I would assume that the frisbee loses no speed when it hits the roof--its speed when it begins sliding up the roof is 15 m/s.

Find the net force on the frisbee as it slides up. Then you can find the acceleration and its speed as it flies off.

I would assume that the frisbee loses no speed when it hits the roof--its speed when it begins sliding up the roof is 15 m/s.[/QUOTE]
Here are the calculations for this question

[x-component for F] = 0 - [Kinetic friction of force] - [mg*sin39] = ma (1)
[y-component for F] = [Normal force] - [mg*cos39] = 0 (2)[Kinetic friction of force] = [Coefficient of kinetic friction]*[Normal force] (3)then find "normal force" of (2)

[Normal force] = [mg*cos39] (4)then substitute (4) into (3)

[Kinetic friction of force] = [Coefficient of kinetic friction]*[mg*cos39] (5)then substitute (5) into (1)

-[Coefficient of kinetic friction]*[mg*cos39] - [mg*sin39] = mathen find acceleration

a = [-([Coefficient of kinetic friction]*[mg*cos39])-(mg*sin39)] / m

= (-[Coefficient of kinetic friction]*[g*cos39])-(g*sin39)

= -g([(Coefficient of kinetic friction)*cos39]+[sin39])

= -9.0707m/s^2
Now I have to find time

v = at + [Initial velovity] *Now do the anti-derivative
d = [(at^2)/2] + [(Initial velocity)*t] + [Initial displacement]
d = [(at^2)/2] + [(Initial velocity)*t] *Initial displacement is gone because its zerothen substitute a into this equation which becomes

10 = [(-4.5353m/s^2)*(t^2)] + [15.0m/s*t]
0 = [(-4.5353m/s^2)*(t^2)] + [15.0m/s*t] - 10then use quadratic equation

(-b[+-]sqrt[(b^2)-(4ac)])/(2a)
(-15[+-]sqrt[(15^2)-4(-4.5353)(-10)])/(2*[-4.5353])

t = 0.9258s, 2.3815s I choose 0.9258s for this calculationsubstitute t into the velocity equation

v = at + [Initial velovity]
= (-9.0707m/s^2)*(0.9258s) + 15.0m/s
= 6.6020m/sthen substitute v into this formula

[Final velocity] = [Initial velocity] + at
0 = [Initial velocity]*sin39 - gtfind t

t = ([Initial velocity]*sin39)/gthen subsitute t into this formula

d = ([Initial velocity]*t) + (0.5*a*t^2)
h = (Initial velocity*sin39)*[([Initial velocity]*sin39)/g] - [(0.5*g)(([Initial velocity]*sin39)/g)]^2
h = [([Initial velocity]^2)*((sin 39)^2)]/(2g)
h = [((6.6020m/s)^2)*((sin39)^2)]/(2*9.81m/s^2)
h = 0.8798mthen find a height of the roof

h = (sin 39)*10
h = 6.2932m

then add it together

[Maximum height] = 0.8798m + 6.2932m
[Maximum height] = 7.1730m = 7.17m
 
Last edited:
shiri said:
Here are the calculations for this question

[x-component for F] = 0 - [Kinetic friction of force] = ma (1)
[y-component for F] = [Normal force] - [mg*cos39] = 0 (2)
Don't forget the x-component of gravity.
 
Doc Al said:
Don't forget the x-component of gravity.

What do you mean x-component of gravity?

I don't understand what you mean?
 
Last edited:
So it becomes like this:


[x-component for F] = 0 - [Kinetic friction of force] - [mg*sin39] = ma (1)
[y-component for F] = [Normal force] - [mg*cos39] = 0 (2)
 
Yes. Looks good.
 
Doc Al said:
Yes. Looks good.

So I recalculate the question (look above) do I do all the calculations right?
 
shiri said:
So I recalculate the question (look above) do I do all the calculations right?
Yes, looks OK.

But you could save yourself some effort if you learned another kinematic formula:

v^2 = v_0^2 + 2 a \Delta x
 

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