Help with introductory Physics (I keep getting different answers)

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SUMMARY

The problem involves calculating the height at which water from a fire hose hits a building, given a distance of 20 meters, an angle of 30 degrees, and an initial speed of 30 m/s. The correct approach requires using projectile motion equations, specifically the horizontal and vertical components of the initial velocity. The discrepancies in answers arise from potential miscalculations in the application of these equations. The accurate height can be determined using the formula for vertical motion under gravity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of projectile motion principles
  • Familiarity with trigonometric functions for angle calculations
  • Knowledge of kinematic equations
  • Ability to decompose vectors into horizontal and vertical components
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the equations of motion for projectile motion
  • Learn how to resolve vectors into components
  • Practice solving similar physics problems involving angles and distances
  • Explore the effects of gravity on projectile trajectories
USEFUL FOR

Students studying introductory physics, educators teaching projectile motion, and anyone interested in applying physics concepts to real-world scenarios.

KillerNWA
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Hey guys,

Im fairly new to this, but I got this question,

"Q1.A firefighter is 20m away from a burning building. She directs the fire hose at an angle of 30 degrees above the horizontal and the water has an initial speed of 30 m/s. At what height does the water hit the building?"


I tried to solve the equation using vectors, but each time i got a different answer, the ones being 9,5,20,3 and freakishly, 0m. I am stuck beyond belief :/ Anyone know what the answer would be? even though i know it sounds stupid to ask.
 
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How did you manage to get different answers if you were doing the same thing?
 

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