Calculating Power for a Trebuchet: Solving for Projectile Distance and Angle

[total_gregoir]

Homework Statement

This question isn't worth any marks for my school year, I am helping build a small classroom Trebuchet and I don't know where to look for the equations as i haven't really done any physics yet at school.

I need to workout the power needed to throw a 20 gram ball 2 meters at a 20 and 45 degree angle, the answer needs to be in joules or Newton meters.

Homework Equations

any help to where i can find them would be really helpful

The Attempt at a Solution

I can't attempt the solution without the equations

 

[Q_Goest]

Hi total,
It doesn't really matter whether you're using a trebuchet or a cannon to throw an item a certain distance. Once the item has some initial velocity at some initial angle to the ground, and neglecting air resistance, the distance traveled will be the same regardless.

Do you know how to determine how far something will go given some initial velocity and initial angle?

 

[dingpud]

As Q Goest said, you'll need to find what type of equations are used to determine the distance given the initial velocity, and initial angle. If you've had an algebra course you'll be able to work through the problem rather easily. Go as far as you can, then post about the point where you get stuck. Best of luck.