Function if a plane dropping a bomb.

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    Bomb Function Plane
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the physics of a bomb being dropped from a plane, focusing on the calculations of its trajectory and the function representing its motion. Participants explore both vertical and horizontal components of the bomb's movement, seeking to derive a mathematical function that describes the bomb's path in a two-dimensional space.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents initial conditions for the bomb's drop, including vertical and horizontal velocities, and seeks to find a function representing the bomb's trajectory.
  • Another participant suggests using the arc-length formula to calculate the total distance traveled by the bomb, prompting a search for necessary values.
  • A participant expresses uncertainty about deriving a function for a bomb dropped with horizontal movement, contrasting it with known functions for projectiles launched from a cannon.
  • Further contributions clarify the derivatives of the horizontal and vertical positions with respect to time, suggesting a method to plug these into the arc-length formula.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to be exploring different approaches to derive the function for the bomb's trajectory, with no consensus reached on a specific method or solution. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact function needed.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully defined the assumptions behind their calculations, and there may be dependencies on specific definitions of motion in two dimensions that are not explicitly stated. The discussion also reflects uncertainty about how to represent the trajectory from different perspectives.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in projectile motion, physics students working on trajectory problems, or those exploring mathematical modeling of motion in two dimensions.

Metalsie
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Vertically:
The initial velocity: =0
Acceleration: a=-9.8
Target Height: y=0
Current Height: y=8000m
time=40.40

Horizontally:
Velocity=133.88
Acceleration=0
time=40.40

Using these values, I have calculated that the bomb will drop 5408.75 meters away. Now I am trying to find the total distance the bomb travels when its dropping. In order to do that, I need a function for the movement of the missile.

How can I find that function? And by function I mean its representation in terms of y=x

Edit: I used the free fall formula and got

f(x)=-4.9x^2+8000

When I graph this, the curve doesn't even come close to 5000 on the x plane. Is there a way to show it from the perspective of someone on the ground?
 
Last edited:
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To find the total distance the bomb travels, you can use the arc-length formula:

$$s=\int_a^b\sqrt{\left(\d{x}{t}\right)^2+\left(\d{y}{t}\right)^2}\,dt$$

Can you find the values you need for this formula?
 
Yes that's the formula I'm trying to use. sqrt(1+(dx/dy)^2)

I need a function to derive first but I don't know how to get that function. I found ways to calculate the function that is launched from a cannon which goes up and down, a way to calculate the free fall function, but not a function where one is dropped with a horizontal movement.

View attachment 3788

It looks something like this. I need to find the function of this curve.
 

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Last edited:
We are given:

$$a=0$$

$$b=40.4$$

$$\d{x}{t}=133.88$$

And we can infer:

$$\d{y}{t}=-9.8t$$

So, plug those in...what do you get?
 

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