Challenging projectile question

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on deriving an equation for the horizontal distance (d) a bomb must be dropped from a plane traveling at an initial horizontal velocity (r0) and altitude (h). The user initially attempts to apply the equation s = ut + 0.5at² but struggles due to the absence of time (t). Participants suggest using the known acceleration due to gravity (a) to calculate time and emphasize that horizontal motion has no acceleration when ignoring air resistance.

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  • Understanding of projectile motion principles
  • Familiarity with kinematic equations, specifically s = ut + 0.5at²
  • Knowledge of horizontal and vertical motion components
  • Basic grasp of gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s²)
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  • Explore the concept of horizontal and vertical motion independence
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Hi everyone!
im having trouble doing a question on projectile motion, and i came across this website thought id give it a go :smile:, see what you guys think...

a bomb is dropped from a plane traveling at velocity r0, the trajectory of the plane is completely horizontal at the moment that it is dropped. Derive an equation for the horizontal distance d at which he needs to drop the bomb in terms of the planes velocity r0 and altitude h

here is a diagram:
http://www.photodump.org/stored16/plane.bmp




at first i thought to use s=ut+.5at^2 and resolve it into x and y components but i keep on getting stuck due to the lack of a t value, any help is greatly appreciated in advance
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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You can use that equation to work out 't' hint you know what 'a' is.
Then in the forward direction there is no 'a' (ignoring air resistance) so you need one of the other equations.

Nice drawing by the way!
 

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