Finding the y-component of a velocity vector

In summary, the conversation discusses finding the equations for the paths of a player and a ball, and then finding the derivative of these equations to determine their velocities. The goal was to find the time when the paths of the player and ball cross, but the solution was incorrect due to using the wrong value for D. The correct value of D is 2 m, not 20 m.
  • #1
valentina
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Homework Statement
Two players are playing football.
Player A is running in a straight line. Player B is going to pass the ball to player A with v_b constant when they're at a distance D=2m.
At that instant, player A has a velocity v_a=3m/s and he's accelerating at 12 m/s^2.
We know that the y-component of the velocity of the ball is 5 m/s.
Find the x-component of the velocity such that player A catches the ball.
Relevant Equations
$$x(t)=x_0+v_{x_{0}}t+\frac{1}{2}at^2$$
The first thing I did, was to find the equations for player A (p) and ball's (b) path (for each i and j component I used the equation I wrote in the relevant equations) and then I found the derivative of both equations so I could have the velocity:

$$\vec{r}_p(t)=(6t^2+3t)\hat{i}+20\hat{j} \Rightarrow \vec{v}_p(t)=(12t+3)\hat{i}$$
$$\vec{r}_b(t)=(v_{0_{x}}t)\hat{i}+5t\hat{j} \Rightarrow \vec{v}_b(t)=(v_{0_{x}})\hat{i} + 5 \hat{j}$$

Now, I tried to find the time when both paths cross:

$$(6t^2+3t)\hat{i}+20\hat{j} = (v_{0_{x}}t)\hat{i}+5t\hat{j} \iff 6t^2+3t=v_{0_x}t \land 20=5t \iff t=4s \Rightarrow v_{0_x}=27 \frac{m}{s}$$

Looking at the solution, what I did is wrong. Can someone guide me please ?
 

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  • #2
D is given as 2 m. But it looks like you took D to be 20 m.
 
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  • #3
TSny said:
D is given as 2 m. But it looks like you took

Oh! I can't believe this lol. Thank you so much!
 
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