# Homework Help: Help with projectile physics

1. Apr 12, 2004

### jennypear

projectile is fired w/an angle of 28.0degrees above the horizontal and from height 46.0m agove the ground. the projectile strikes ground w/a speed of 1.95xVo. Find Vo

I started using the eqution
(Vfy)^2=(Voy)^2+2*Ay*(delta Y)

Voy=Vosin(theta)=.47Vo
Vfy=1.954*Vosin(theta)=.92Vo

(.92Vo)^2=(.47Vo)^2+(2*-9.8*-46)
Vo=37.9

but my answer is wrong and I can't think of another way to answer the problem.....Any ideas?

Thanks for your time!

2. Apr 12, 2004

### sridhar_n

What is Vo? Is it the velocity of projection, or, is it just a constant?

Last edited: Apr 12, 2004
3. Apr 12, 2004

### cookiemonster

There's no guarantee that the projectile hits the ground at the same angle as it was launched!

cookiemonster

4. Apr 13, 2004

### sridhar_n

However, for this problem, I think we should assume that the projectile hits the ground at the same angle as it was launched....

Sridhar

5. Apr 13, 2004

### cookiemonster

Why should that be assumed?

cookiemonster

6. Apr 13, 2004

### Chen

Not only are you not supposed to make that assumption, it is wrong! The projectile is travelling in a parabola.........

You need to use the conservation of energy equation:

$$0 = \Delta E_m = \Delta E_p + \Delta E_k$$
$$0 = mg(0 - h) + \frac{1}{2}m(v_f^2 - v_0^2)$$
$$2gh = (1.95v_0)^2 - v_0^2 = 2.8025v_0^2$$

The initial velocity is 17.94m/s (for g = 9.8m/s2).

Last edited: Apr 13, 2004
7. Apr 13, 2004

### jennypear

Thanks for the help!

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