Calculating Water Speed Leaving Hose Nozzle

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the speed of water as it exits a garden hose nozzle pointed vertically upward. The scenario includes the height of the nozzle above the ground and the time it takes for the sound of the water striking the ground to be heard after the water is released.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between time, distance, and velocity in the context of projectile motion. There are attempts to clarify the meaning of variables and the setup of the problem. Some express confusion about the breakdown of motion into two events and the correct application of kinematic equations.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the kinematic equations relevant to the problem. Some participants have provided guidance on using the correct formulas, while others are questioning their understanding of the variables involved. Multiple interpretations of the problem setup are being discussed, particularly regarding the initial velocity and the time of flight.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information they can use or the methods they can apply. There is some uncertainty about the definitions of variables and the assumptions made in the problem setup.

FossilFew
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Suppose you adjust your garden hose nozzle for a hard stream of water. You point the nozzle vertically upward at a height of 1.5m above the ground. When you quickly move away from the vertical you hear the water striking the ground next to you for another 2.0s. What is the water speed as it leaves the nozzle?

What I know/don't know:

t (overall Time) = 2.0
Total distance = d2 +d1 +1.5m and that d2 = d1 +1.5m


Event 1
Initial velocity = ?
Final velocity = 0 m/s
a= -9.80 m/s^2

Event 2
Initial velocity = 0 m/s
Final velocity = ?
a= -9.80 m/s^2


I'm not sure how to proceed. I suspect I need a subsitution - may be time and distance? Any help is appreciated!
 
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FossilFew said:
Suppose you adjust your garden hose nozzle for a hard stream of water. You point the nozzle vertically upward at a height of 1.5m above the ground. When you quickly move away from the vertical you hear the water striking the ground next to you for another 2.0s. What is the water speed as it leaves the nozzle?

What I know/don't know:

t (overall Time) = 2.0
Total distance = d2 +d1 +1.5m and that d2 = d1 +1.5m
What do d1 and d2 mean?

Event 1
Initial velocity = ?
Final velocity = 0 m/s
No, the final velocity is NOT 0 m/s!

a= -9.80 m/s^2

Event 2
Initial velocity = 0 m/s
Final velocity = ?
a= -9.80 m/s^2
event 2? What 2 events are you talking about?

I'm not sure how to proceed. I suspect I need a subsitution - may be time and distance? Any help is appreciated!

I assume you mean you hear the water striking the ground 2.0 seconds after starting the water rather than "for another 2.0s".

The height, after t seconds, is given by x(t)= 1.5+ v0t- 4.9t2 (the 1.5 is the initial height above the ground, v0 is the initial velocity that you want to find and -4.9 is g/2). Saying that the water strikes the ground after 2 s means that x(2)= 1.5+ v0(2)- 4.9(22)= 0. Solve that for v0.
 
I broke down d1 and d2 as distance 1 and distance 2. It looks like I didn't need to do that.

I think you assumption is correct. My head is still spinning a bit on x(t)= 1.5+ v0t- 4.9t2 . I'm just wondering why it wasn't broken into two parts (the first part being the upward motion of the water to the arc and then the arc of the water to the ground).

BTW thanks for help me with this problem. I appreciate it!
 
so is the answer -18.1 m/s?
 
How did you get that?
 
HallsofIvy said:
How did you get that?

this is how i got it

x(t)= 1.5m+ 1/2(-9.8)(t)^2

x(t)= 1.5-4.9(2)^2

x(t)= 1.5-4.9(4)

X(t)=-18.1

*if this is wrong please show me the correct steps and explanation of what i did wrong please
 
The initial velocity should be part of that equation.
 
Redbelly98 said:
The initial velocity should be part of that equation.

i don't understand please show me
 
Your physics textbook has 3 or 4 standard equations that deal with constant-acceleration motion. You were using one of them when you wrote (post #6)

x(t)= 1.5m+ 1/2(-9.8)(t)^2

Look in your book at the general equation where this comes from ... write out the equation as it's written in your book and show us what that equation is.
 
  • #10
Redbelly98 said:
Your physics textbook has 3 or 4 standard equations that deal with constant-acceleration motion. You were using one of them when you wrote (post #6)



Look in your book at the general equation where this comes from ... write out the equation as it's written in your book and show us what that equation is.

the equation my book has is this X=Xo+volt+1/2at^2 you put X(t) and that what I am confused about shouldn't it be 1.5m=V(2)+1/2(9.8)(2)^2 and the final answer i got is -9.05m/s^2
 
  • #11
ldbaseball16 said:
the equation my book has is this X=Xo+volt+1/2at^2 you put X(t) and that what I am confused about shouldn't it be 1.5m=V(2)+1/2(9.8)(2)^2 and the final answer i got is -9.05m/s^2

Don't be confused, you are doing it correctly now :smile: By the way, it seems that you are defining upward as positive, and downward as negative.

You correctly included Vo here, you did not include it in post #'s 4 and 6 (when you were getting a different answer).
 

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