Finding Horizontal Momentum of Cannonball

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving the momentum of a cannonball fired at an angle. The original poster is trying to determine the horizontal component of the cannonball's momentum based on given values, including its mass, the angle of launch, and the total momentum at the peak of its trajectory.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between the angle of launch and the components of momentum. The original poster expresses confusion about how to apply the angle to find the horizontal momentum. Others clarify that the horizontal component of velocity remains constant during flight, while the vertical component changes due to gravity.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, questioning the implications of the angle and the nature of momentum at the highest point of the projectile's path. Some guidance has been offered regarding the constancy of horizontal velocity and the role of vertical velocity, but no consensus has been reached on the specific calculations needed.

Contextual Notes

The original poster notes that they have limited information, only the momentum, weight, and angle, which raises questions about how to derive the necessary components for their calculations.

elmosworld403
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A 2.00 kg cannonball is fired out of a cannon at an angle of 30.0 to the horizontal. When the cannonball reaches the top of its path, its momentum has a magnitude of 800 kg-m/s. What is the horizontal component of the cannonball's momentum when it left the cannon?




Change in Momentum
p=mΔv
p=fnetΔT
Impulse=Δp


3. Just learning momentum, but I don't know how to use the 30 degree angle with the momentum values to find the horizontal momentum? It does have to do with projectile motion, but I don't know how to use the data.
 

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Hi elmosworld403. Welcome to PF!

Do you remember how the horizontal component of velocity of a projectile changes during flight?
 
Horizontal velocity doesn't change at all. Vertical velocity does from gravity.
 
elmosworld403 said:
Horizontal velocity doesn't change at all. Vertical velocity does from gravity.

Right. What are the values of both the components at the highest point?
 
I checked the answer it was 800 kg- m/s

But the picture is confusing me isn't that the momentum of the cannonball at a 30 degree angle taking both the vertical and horizontal into account?
 
elmosworld403 said:
But the picture is confusing me isn't that the momentum of the cannonball at a 30 degree angle taking both the vertical and horizontal into account?

It is but you are asked only the horizontal component of the momentum. As I previously asked, what are the values of both the components of velocity at the highest point?
 
Pranav-Arora said:
Right. What are the values of both the components at the highest point?

Idk

Horizontal
Distance=?
Velocity=?
Time=?

Vertical
Acceleration= 9.81 m/s squared.
Vinitial=?
VFinal=?
Distance=?
Time=?

The question only gives me the momentum and weight and the angle.
Momentum= 800 kg m/s
weight= 2 kg
angle= 30 degrees
 
elmosworld403 said:
Idk

Horizontal
Distance=?
Velocity=?
Time=?

Vertical
Acceleration= 9.81 m/s squared.
Vinitial=?
VFinal=?
Distance=?
Time=?

The question only gives me the momentum and weight and the angle.
Momentum= 800 kg m/s
weight= 2 kg
angle= 30 degrees

The cannonball goes up due to the vertical component of velocity. When the vertical component of velocity reduces to zero, it starts getting back to the ground. So effectively, only the horizontal component of velocity contributes to the momentum of the ball at the highest point.
 
Pranav-Arora said:
The cannonball goes up due to the vertical component of velocity. When the vertical component of velocity reduces to zero, it starts getting back to the ground. So effectively, only the horizontal component of velocity contributes to the momentum of the ball at the highest point.

Holy Thanks Dude, my mind is blown right now. Didn't think that the highest point would not take into account the vertical since its velocity is zero. So the at the highest point only the momentum of the horizontal is left.:approve:

Until gravity takes over? then the vertical has a velocity again which goes towards the momentum?
 

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