Finding Launch Speed and Maximum Height of a Toy Rocket

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 7K views
zcd
Messages
197
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A toy rocket moving vertically upward passes by a 2.2 m high window whose sill is 9.0m above the ground. The rocket takes 0.17s to travel the 2.2m height of the window. What was the launch speed of the rocket, and how high will it go? Assume the propellant is burned very quickly at blastoff.


Homework Equations


[tex]y=-4.9t^2+v_0t+y_0[/tex]


The Attempt at a Solution


I start by assuming the rocket launched from the ground, so the initial height is 0. The height at an unknown time y(t0)=9.0=-4.9t02+v0t0, and the height .17s after is y(t0+.17)=2.2=-4.9(t0+.17)2+v0(t0+.17). If I take the difference, I end up with:
2.34161=-1.666t0+0.17v0.

If my reasoning wasn't wrong here, it seems I'm missing a piece of information to finish the problem. How would I find the exact point in time t0 where the rocket just reaches the window sill?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
y(t0+.17)=2.2=-4.9(t0+.17)2+v0(t0+.17).

The above equation should be

y(t0+.17)=2.2 + 9 =-4.9(t0+.17)^2+v0(t0+.17).

Now solve the equations to find vo and to.
 
I don't see how I can solve the equations. I don't know the value of t0
 
9.0=-4.9t0^2+v0t0,...(1)

2.2 + 9 =-4.9(t0+.17)^2+v0(t0+.17)...(2)

(2) - (1)

2.2 = -(4.9)[(to + .17)^2 - to^2] + vo*0.17

2.2 = -(4.9)[2*o.17*to + (0.17)^2] + vo*0.17

0.17*v0 = 2.2 + (4.9)[2*o.17*to + (0.17)^2]

Find vo and substitute is eq(1) and solve for to.
 
I didn't think of that. Thanks for the help!