Find Initial Velocity from Angle and Horizontal Distance

AI Thread Summary
To find the initial velocity of an athlete executing a long jump at a 30° angle and covering a horizontal distance of 8.00 m, the problem involves analyzing both horizontal and vertical motion under constant gravitational acceleration. The horizontal component of the velocity is expressed as v_{0x} = v_0 cos(30°), while the vertical component is v_{0y} = v_0 sin(30°), with the only acceleration being due to gravity at -9.8 m/s². The initial attempts to solve the problem led to incorrect conclusions, including a final velocity of zero, indicating a misunderstanding of the equations of motion. It was suggested to consider both x and y coordinates separately to account for the vertical displacement and time of flight, which are crucial for determining the correct initial velocity. The discussion emphasizes the importance of correctly applying kinematic equations to solve for the unknown initial velocity.
IcyDuck
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Homework Statement


"An athlete executing a long jump leaves the ground at a 30.0° angle and travels a horizontal distance 8.00m. What was the take-off speed?"

Let
##x=## horizontal distance
##v=## velocity
##a=## acceleration

Known:
##x=8 m##
##x_0=0 m##
##a_y=-9.8 m/s^2##
##v_{0x}=v_0cos(30°)##
##v_{0y}=v_0sin(30°)##

Solve for ##v_0##


Homework Equations


The only acceleration present is gravitational acceleration, so constant acceleration formulas are valid here. I decided to work with the horizontal component, because I was given the horizontal distance.
##v_x^2=v_{0x}^2+2a_x(x-x_0)##
##x=x_0+v_{0x}t+1/2a_xt^2##
##x=x_0+1/2(v_{0x}+v_x)t##


The Attempt at a Solution


I decided that since the athlete lands, and thus stops moving, at ##x=8,## the ##x## component of the final velocity would be ##v_x=0.## Given this and the values given above, I began plugging my values into the first relevant equation. But that led to ##v_0=0##!

##v_x^2=v_{0x}^2+2a_x(x-x_0)##

##v_0x=v_0cos(30°).##

##0=(v_0cos(30°))^2,##

##v_0=0##


On my next attempt I went out on a bit of a limb and used the third relevant equation to derive time ##t,## which I knew would contain the unsolved variable ##v_0.## I got this and plugged this into the second relevant equation, which made the two ##v_{0x}## variables cancel out.

##x=x_0+v_0t+1/2a_xt^2##

##t=16/v_0##

##x=x_0+v_{0x}t+1/2a_xt^2##

##8=0+v_{0x}(16/v_{0x}),##


There's something I'm not taking into consideration (and I might be making this harder than it needs to be), but I don't know what. Any hints as to where I should be directing my thinking on this?
 
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You are not taking the y displacement under consideration. And there is no x-acceleration. The only accelerative agent is gravity.

So write the equations for the x and y coordinates.
 
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