Find Initial Velocity from Angle and Horizontal Distance

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the initial velocity of an athlete executing a long jump at a 30.0° angle, covering a horizontal distance of 8.00 meters. The relevant equations of motion under constant acceleration are employed, specifically the horizontal and vertical components of motion. The participant initially miscalculates the initial velocity, concluding it to be zero, due to neglecting the vertical displacement and the effects of gravitational acceleration. The correct approach involves using both horizontal and vertical motion equations to derive the initial velocity accurately.

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  • Understanding of projectile motion principles
  • Familiarity with kinematic equations for constant acceleration
  • Basic trigonometry for resolving velocity components
  • Knowledge of gravitational acceleration (9.8 m/s²)
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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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