Conservation of Energy (2-Dimensional)

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on solving a physics problem involving the conservation of energy for a bullet shot at an angle. The user successfully determined the maximum height (H) using energy equations but struggled with finding the velocity at half that height. The correct approach involves substituting the expression for maximum height into the velocity equation. Clarifications were provided regarding the correct formulation of H and the need to adjust the calculations for the velocity at half the maximum height. The conversation emphasizes the importance of correctly applying energy conservation principles in projectile motion problems.
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Homework Statement


A bullet is shot into the air with muzzle veloity Vo at an angle θ with the horizontal. Use energy considerations to find a) the highest point reached and b) the magnitude of the velocity when the bullet is at half its maximum height.

Homework Equations


Vx = Vo*cos(θ)
Vy = Vo*sin(θ)
@ Ymax, Vy = 0
Ei = Ef
KEi + PEi = KEf + PEf

The Attempt at a Solution


I got letter a by breaking Vo into its components.

1/2*m*Vo^2*cos^2(θ) + 1/2*m*Vo^2*sin^2(θ) + 0 = 1/2*m*Vo^2*cos^2(θ) + m*g*H
1/2*m*Vo^2*sin^2(θ) = mgH
H = Vo^2*sin^2(θ)/

My problem is with letter b. According to the textbook, the answer is:
V = sqrt(gh + Vo^2*cos^2(θ)) = sqrt(Vo^2/2[1 + cos^2(θ)]) =
Vo^2*sqrt(1 - 1/2*sin^2(θ))

I'm finding it difficult to getting to that answer. I basically used the same process as letter a except H is now H/2 and the final y-component of V is now in the final energy.

I ended up getting V = sqrt(Vo^2 - gH), which is obviously not consistent with the book's answer.
 
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Good evening,

In a, didn't you mean to write H = Vo^2*sin^2(θ)/2g?
The expression you obtained in a --the highest point-- is the maximum height.
In b, you obtained the formula by setting height = H/2; the problem asks for the velocity at half the maximum height.
So, in the formula you got (V = sqrt(Vo^2 - gH)) try to replace H with the expression for the maximum height you found in a, and see if it matches the book's answer.
 
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