Find Horizontal Range of Projectile with Initial Speed of 60m/s

AI Thread Summary
A projectile launched at an initial speed of 60 m/s reaches a maximum height of 150 m. The angle of launch is calculated to be approximately 64.6 degrees, resulting in a vertical component of 54.2 m/s. The horizontal range is derived using the total flight time, which is determined by the vertical motion equations. The final horizontal range is calculated to be 284 m. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding projectile motion and the parabolic trajectory in solving for range.
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Homework Statement


A projectile is launched with an intial speed of 60m/s. If it reaches a maximum height of 150m above this level surface then its horizontal range (in m) is ____ ?


Homework Equations



v^{2} = vo^{2} + 2ay

y = yo + Vot + 1/2at^2

The Attempt at a Solution



Vo = 60m/s, then Vox = 60cos(theta); Voy = 60sin(theta) y-yo = 150m

V^2 = Vo^2 + 2ad

0 = 60sin(theta) + 2(-9.8)(150)

theta = 64.6 degrees, so Voy = 54.2m/s

Then,

y-yo = Voyt + 1/2at^2

0 = -150 + 54.2t - 4.9t^2

no zeroes, I was going to grab the zeros for this quadratic and the use, x/2 = Vox/t; x being my final range. Any ideas?

EDIT: I thought about it a bit more and decided that since I already found the angle I could just turn it into a triangle problem.

the triangle has a height of 150, so the distance in the x direction is simply, x = 150/tan(theta);

This will give the HALF of the horizontal range, so 2x will give me my answer. Now oddly enough, 4x seems to give me the correct answer and 2x only half of the correct answer... Coincidence?
 
Last edited:
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If you are having trouble solving for t using your quadratic equation, why not use v=gt to solve for t, then double it to get the total flight time. The triangle approach does not work, because the projectile takes on a parabolic shape.
 
Doh, Vfy = Voy -gt1; t1 = Voy/g ; t2 the full time, therefore t2 = 2t1

x = Vox * t2 = 284m,

Thanks.
 
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