Determining When and Where Water Balloons Meet

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two students throwing water balloons at each other from different heights, with one on a roof and the other on the ground. The scenario includes initial velocities for both balloons and the height of the building, prompting a discussion on determining the time and location of their meeting point.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relevance of projectile motion principles and the importance of visualizing the problem through diagrams. There are attempts to identify initial conditions and forces acting on each balloon, as well as questions about how to begin solving the problem without specific equations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different approaches to the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding breaking down the problem into manageable parts, such as analyzing each balloon separately and equating their positions to find the collision time.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the acceleration due to gravity and the need to clarify initial conditions, but there is no consensus on the specific method to solve the problem. The original poster expresses uncertainty about how to initiate the solution process.

tiffanyg
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tow students are randomly attacking each other with water balloons. one student is on the roof and the other is on the ground below.

the student on the roof throws a water balloon straight down with an initial speed of 5.2m/s and the student below throws his up at a rate of 7.1m/s. if the height of the building is 10m,

determine where and when the two balloons meet??

[i don't knooow!]
 
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Ok so this is kind of like projectile motion only in one dimension. When working with problems like this it is important to draw a diagram. It also makes it easier if you solve for one balloon at a time.
 
i drew the diagram...but i don't know how to start to solve, if you help me to get started i can do the rest
 
Well how do you think you would start it? You don't have to use equations or anything. Try to tell me in words what you would have to do.
 
ok so.
 
i started to solve the problem by naming the unknows and what data is given. and i called the boy on the roof B1 and the other boy B2

i also have acceleration= 9.8 m/s2
 
ok so...

- deal with each balloon individually first
- write down the forces and initial velocity at time t=0 on each balloon
- use these to find the velocity & positon at time t of each balloon

from there you'll need to equate the positions and solve for the time t when they collide
 

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