Conceptual problem with projectile motion

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1MileCrash
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Homework Statement



[PLAIN]http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4554/physicshomework.png


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I have the right answer because it is obvious, but I wanted to practice working this out regardless, and I have something slightly different for hmax.

First, I found the y-component of velocity to be:

[itex]V_{o}sin\theta_{o} - 9.8t[/itex]

It follows that at the highest point, that this is equal to 0. So I set it equal to 0 and solved for t.

[itex]t = \frac{V_{o}sin\theta_{o}}{9.8}[/itex]

Integrating my y velocity gives y position:

[itex]y(t) = (V_{o}sin\theta_{o})t - 4.9t^{2}[/itex]

And solving for our time gives me:

[itex]h_{max} = V_{o}sin\theta_{o}(\frac{V_{o}sin\theta_{o}}{9.8}) - 4.9(\frac{V_{o}sin\theta_{o}}{9.8})^{2}[/itex]

Where did I go wrong?

Thanks!

EDIT nevermind! They are the same, just had to do some algebra.
 
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The first thing you did wrong is writing 9.8 instead of g. If you go back and fix that and do a little algebra you'll see you already have the same answer as in the image.
 
I'm not sure why you think that's wrong, I didn't forget halfway through the problem that they are the same..
 
1MileCrash said:
I'm not sure why you think that's wrong, I didn't forget halfway through the problem that they are the same..

It's wrong because now you have to change 9.8 back to g and 4.9 back to g/2. Why didn't you just leave it g to begin with? That's what I mean by 'wrong'. It's sort of a tactical error. You're making life complicated by leaving numbers floating around instead of 'g'.
 
Not sure, I just wrote it that way without thinking. What I meant was that I didn't get to the end and say "they have g where I have 9.8, what is going on."