Find Initial Velocity (With Wind Factored In)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the initial velocity of a projectile while factoring in wind conditions. The original poster seeks guidance on how to modify an existing formula for initial velocity to incorporate wind speed and angle, given various parameters such as coordinates and mass.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to adapt a formula for initial velocity that currently does not account for wind. They express uncertainty about how to incorporate wind speed and angle into their calculations.

Discussion Status

Participants have noted the original poster's frustration with the lack of responses and the time spent seeking assistance. There is an ongoing exploration of how to approach the problem, with some participants suggesting that the velocity remains constant, although this has not been fully clarified or agreed upon.

Contextual Notes

The original poster is not currently enrolled in a physics course and is working on this problem independently, indicating a potential lack of foundational knowledge in physics concepts that may be relevant to the discussion.

SomeGuy121
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[Please Help!] Find Initial Velocity (With Wind Factored In)


I can't do it =\.

Q: What equation would I use to find initial velocity? Given: Wind Speed, Wind Angle, Coordinates of Origin, Coordinates of End Point, (Distance), Projectile Mass, Theta (Angle to Use)

Here's my repost from a previous topic:

Hey Physics Forums. This is my first post here, and I'm just wondering about how to find what the initial velocity SHOULD be based on all the other information that I provide (it's for a program application I coded).

Anyways, I have this right now (which is for no wind/0 wind):

I am just wondering how I would go about factoring in the "wind" and wind's angle.

Wind Angles:

^ 90
< 180 > 0
\/ 270

As you can see, the wind angle starts at East 0 and increases counter-clockwise.

Anyways, here's the formula:

Velocity = Sqrt((Mass * (DifferenceInX^ 2)) / (2 * (DifferenceInX) * Sin(Theta* PI / 180) * Cos(Thtea * PI / 180) - (2 * (DifferenceInY)) * ((Cos(Theta* PI / 180) ^ 2))))

Where Theta is the angle of the shot; Difference in X is the difference in coordinates X of the starting position and where you want the shot to end; and DifferenceInY is the difference in coordinates Y of the starting and ending position.

Please help me out! Thanks.

I don't take a Physics course yet, I'm enrolled in Algebra 2 at the moment, but am heavily interested in the Physics course of study, so please do help me out!

I need an equation, like the one above, that will work in my computer program.
 
Last edited:
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Also, the velocity remains constant; it doesn't change...
 
I don't know why my question hasn't been answered as of yet! This isn't homework, this is off-to-the-side-what-I-do work.

I have no idea how to begin to make this all work. I've been looking for an answer for over 5 months!
 
I'll include a picture with equations for finding initial velocity in zero wind.
 

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The final line is the line to find initial velocity in 0 wind.

Velocity = Sqrt((Mass * (DifferenceInX^ 2)) / (2 * (DifferenceInX) * Sin(Theta* PI / 180) * Cos(Thtea * PI / 180) - (2 * (DifferenceInY)) * ((Cos(Theta* PI / 180) ^ 2))))
 

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