Find the horizontal distance a ball will travel

In summary, the conversation discusses finding the horizontal distance a ball will travel when rolled down a ramp off a table. The height of the table is 70.5cm and the time it took for the ball to hit the ground was 0.335s. It is suggested to use a physics equation to prove that the distance is around 69cm. Factors such as the angle of the ramp and the concept of conservation of energy are also mentioned as important considerations for the calculation.
  • #1
puddinandpie
1
0
Hi,
I have a physics question I'm not sure how to answer.
I need to find the horizontal distance a ball will travel when rolled down a ramp off a table.
The height of the table is 70.5cm
The time it took to leave the table and hit the ground is 0.335s
Using trial and error we found that the distance is around 69cm, but i need to prove this using a physics equation.
Anyone know how to do this?
 
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  • #2
really you should recall that the ball will move horizontally at a constant speed for the amount of time it is in the air. From basic physics you should know how to calculate the time it takes for a ball to drop from a height d given its acceleration due to gravity.
 
  • #3
I assume that the end of the ramp was at the edge of the table launching the ball at an angle [itex]\theta[/itex] below the horizon (oops, you had to measure it!). This means that the x velocity will be
[tex]x=v_ot\cos(\theta)[/tex]
and the y displacement (taken positive downwards)
[tex]y=v_ot\sin(\theta)+\frac{gt^2}{2}[/tex]
Eliminate [itex]v_o[/itex] in the second equation using the first one.
 
  • #4
How high is your ramp?
What is its angle of inclination ?
Conservation of energy is the best approach in this case.
You also need to take rotational motion into account.
 

1. How do you calculate the horizontal distance a ball will travel?

The horizontal distance a ball will travel can be calculated using the formula: horizontal distance = initial velocity * time. This formula assumes that there is no air resistance and the ball is moving in a straight line.

2. What factors affect the horizontal distance a ball will travel?

The factors that affect the horizontal distance a ball will travel include the initial velocity of the ball, the angle at which it is thrown, the presence of air resistance, and the surface it is traveling on. Other factors such as wind and spin can also have an impact.

3. How is the horizontal distance a ball will travel different from the total distance?

The horizontal distance a ball will travel only considers the distance traveled in the x-axis (left to right), while the total distance takes into account both the horizontal and vertical distance (up and down). The total distance will always be greater than the horizontal distance.

4. Can the horizontal distance a ball will travel be predicted accurately?

The horizontal distance a ball will travel can be predicted accurately if the initial conditions (such as initial velocity and angle) and external factors (such as air resistance) are known and accounted for. However, slight variations in these factors can lead to differences in the actual distance traveled.

5. How can the horizontal distance a ball will travel be measured?

The horizontal distance a ball will travel can be measured using various tools such as a measuring tape or a ruler. It can also be calculated using video analysis software that tracks the motion of the ball. In experiments, the horizontal distance can also be measured indirectly by measuring the time the ball takes to travel a certain distance and using the formula mentioned in the first question.

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