Finding the Range of a Bullet Fired from a Sliding Incline

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a college student firing a bullet while sliding down a 55.0° incline at a constant speed of 8.00 m/s, with the bullet's initial velocity being 5 m/s and the student starting from a height of 10.0 m above the ground. The discussion centers around understanding the effects of acceleration in this scenario, particularly in relation to the incline and the bullet's motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the implications of the student's constant speed on acceleration, questioning whether the acceleration along the incline is zero and how this relates to the vertical motion of the bullet. There are attempts to clarify the role of gravitational acceleration in the context of the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights into the relationship between the student's motion and the bullet's trajectory. Some guidance has been offered regarding the acceleration of the bullet after it is fired, while multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of kinematic equations and the effects of constant speed versus acceleration in the context of projectile motion. There is a focus on the assumptions made about the student's motion and its relevance to the bullet's path.

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Homework Statement



A college student holds a gun in a horizontal position while sliding down a 55.0° incline at a constant speed of 8.00 m/s. How far will the bullet travel with a velocity of 5m/s if the student fires the gun when it is 10.0 m above the ground?

Homework Equations

y=y0+ v0y*t+1/2*g*t^(2)

The Attempt at a Solution



If he is sliding down an incline his acceleration would be gsin(theta) right? What if the slider was sliding at a constant speed as in this case? Would his acceleration just be g?

Looking to find the time it takes for him to go from 10m to 0m in the vertical motion.
y=y0 + v0t + 1/2g*t^(2)

What would g be in this case? Thanks!
 
Last edited:
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Toranc3 said:

Homework Statement



A college student holds a gun in a horizontal position while sliding down a 55.0° incline at a constant speed of 8.00 m/s. How far will the bullet travel with a velocity of 5m/s if the student fires the gun when it is 10.0 m above the ground?

Homework Equations


y=y0+ v0y*t+1/2*g*t^(2)

The Attempt at a Solution



If a skier is skiing down an incline it's acceleration would be gsin(theta) right? What if the skier was skiing at a constant speed as in this case? Would his acceleration just be g?

Looking to find the time it takes for him to go from 10m to 0m in the vertical motion.
y=y0 + v0t + 1/2g*t^(2)

What would g be in this case? Thanks!
What does the skier have to do with this question regarding the bullet?
Are you wondering what would be the case is the student was sliding down the ramp without friction?

Then, yes, student's acceleration would be [itex]\displaystyle \ g\sin(55^{\circ})\ .[/itex]

However, the student slides with constant speed. Therefore his/her acceleration is zero.​
 
SammyS said:
What does the skier have to do with this question regarding the bullet?
Are you wondering what would be the case is the student was sliding down the ramp without friction?

Then, yes, student's acceleration would be [itex]\displaystyle \ g\sin(55^{\circ})\ .[/itex]

However, the student slides with constant speed. Therefore his/her acceleration is zero.​

Oops sorry. I fixed that thanks. So for the equation y=y0+v0y*t+1/2*a*t^(2) a just goes to zero?
Since he is sliding down at constant speed he has zero acceleration along the incline but wouldn't he have acceleration pointing straight down?
 
Last edited:
Toranc3 said:
Oops sorry. I fixed that thanks. So for the equation y=y0+v0y*t+1/2*a*t^(2) a just goes to zero?
Since he is sliding down at constant speed he has zero acceleration along the incline but wouldn't he have acceleration pointing straight down?
What do you mean by "it" goes to zero? What is "it"?

Well, the acceleration of the student is zero, if that's what you mean, but that doesn't have much to do with solving this problem, or using that kinematic equation. The bullet will have acceleration of g, after being fired.
 
SammyS said:
What do you mean by "it" goes to zero? What is "it"?

Well, the acceleration of the student is zero, if that's what you mean, but that doesn't have much to do with solving this problem, or using that kinematic equation. The bullet will have acceleration of g, after being fired.

Hey I got it. Idk what I was thinking before but I got it now. Thanks for your help.
 

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