Horizontal Projectile Motion Question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a horizontal projectile motion problem involving a ball thrown from a height of 22.8 m, which strikes the ground 52.1 m away from the base of the building. Participants are exploring various aspects of the motion, including time of flight, initial velocity, and components of velocity just before impact.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss calculating the time of flight using vertical motion equations and question the relationship between horizontal and vertical components of velocity. There is uncertainty regarding the initial velocity and how to derive it from the given information.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants sharing their methods for finding time and horizontal velocity. Some guidance has been offered regarding the equations of motion, but there remains confusion about the vertical component and how to determine the initial velocity.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating through the constraints of the problem, including the lack of horizontal forces and the implications of the ball being thrown horizontally. There is also mention of different equations of motion, indicating varying levels of familiarity with the concepts involved.

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Horizontal Projectile Motion Question...please help!

1. A ball is thrown horizontally from the top of a building 22.8 m. high. The ball strikes the ground at a point 52.1 m. from the base of the building.
a. Find the time the ball is in motion.
b. Find the initial velocity of the ball.
c. Find the x component of its velocity just before it strikes the ground.
d. Find the y component of its velocity just before it strikes the ground.




2. vx =
dx=52.1
t

vfY
voY = 0
aY = -9.8 (gravity)
dY= -22.8
t




3. I found the time to be 2.16 s., but the rest is tricking me up. The answer to b can't be zero can it? I don't understand that part, and I'm just at a loss for how to find the x and y components. So please...can anybody give me some help here?
 
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You found the time from the vertical free fall?
There are no horizontal forces acting on the ball so the horizontal velocity must be constant. You know how far it went and how long it took so you have horizontal velocity.

You can find the vertical velocity from v^2 + u^2 + 2as, you know the initial vertical velocity is zero because it was thrown horizontally.
 
I found the time from d=vo(t) + 1/2 at^2
And never mind about the horizontal, because i found that with dx=vx(t)
The part that's still tricking me up is the vertival...I've never seen v^2 + u^2 + 2as before so idk how else i would find it
 
Alternatively the vertical speed is v = u + a t, or simply v = gt if it is just dropped, this is obvious from the definition of accelaration.
the v^2 = u^2 + 2 a s, is from substiting the t from "s = ut + 1/2at^2" in "v = u + at"
 
ohhhhh i think I am getting that now...but then how would you find the initial velocity? it sounds like the easiest part but i still don't know how to fund it.
 

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