Calculating Time of Flight for Artillery Shell

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the total time of flight for an artillery shell fired at an angle of 85.1 degrees with an initial speed of 1960 m/s, under the influence of gravity at 9.8 m/s². The key to solving this problem lies in using kinematics equations, specifically by determining the vertical component of the initial velocity through a force triangle. This approach simplifies the calculation by treating the projectile motion as vertical motion, allowing for the application of standard kinematic formulas.

PREREQUISITES
  • Kinematics equations of motion
  • Understanding of projectile motion
  • Basic trigonometry for calculating velocity components
  • Knowledge of gravitational acceleration (9.8 m/s²)
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation and application of kinematics equations
  • Learn how to resolve vectors into components using trigonometric functions
  • Explore examples of projectile motion problems in physics
  • Investigate the impact of varying launch angles on time of flight
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, engineers, and anyone interested in understanding projectile motion and the calculations involved in artillery shell trajectories.

streetracer14
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
I am completely lost on this one; An artillery shell is fired at an angle of 85.1 degrees above the horizontal ground with an initial speed of 1960 m/s. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s/s. Find the total time of flight. Can someone do it and explain how to do it?? Thanks so much!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The trick to these questions is that no forces act on the shell horizontally so it is equivalent to a shell fired vertically with a certain velocity.
You find the vertical componnet of the velocity by drawing a 'force triangle' if the shell goes at 1960m/s at that angle draw a triangle with this as the hypotonuse and the angle given in the question.
 

Similar threads

Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K