How do I calculate the trajectory of a thrown ball onto a roof?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the trajectory of a ball thrown from the ground to a roof, specifically focusing on the vertical and horizontal components of velocity, as well as the time taken for various segments of the ball's flight. The subject area includes kinematics and projectile motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to find the initial vertical component of velocity and the time for the ball to reach maximum height, expressing confusion about the lack of an angle. Some participants suggest writing relations between the variables involved to solve for unknowns.

Discussion Status

Some participants have made progress on parts of the problem, with one reporting values for the initial vertical velocity and time to maximum height. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the approach for subsequent parts of the problem, with guidance offered on considering free fall and constant horizontal velocity.

Contextual Notes

The original poster notes a lack of angle information, which is affecting their ability to approach the problem. There is also mention of specific values obtained for parts of the problem, indicating partial progress.

wolves5
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A ball is thrown from the ground onto a roof of height yroof = 15 m from a distance of x = 7 meters away as shown in the diagram to the left. The maximum height of the ball's trajectory is ymax = 4 meters above the top of the roof.

(a) Find the required initial vertical component of the velocity, Vy.

Since there's no angle, I don't know how to approach it. Usually, I would just do velocity x sin(angle) to get the answer.

(b) Find the time for the ball to reach maximum height.
(c) Find the time for the ball to fall from the maximum height to the rooftop.

(d) Find the initial horizontal component of the velocity.
I have the same problem that is similar to a. I don't know how to approach it without an angle value.
 
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Write up the relations between x, y, vx, vy, angle, and time, see what you know and solve for the unknowns.

ehild
 
This doesn't help me. I'm still confused. I just don't know how to start it.
 
Actually, I got parts a and b. For a, I got 19.31 m/s. For b, I got 1.968 seconds. How do I approach c and d. I don't know which equations to use.
 
c. You know the displacement from the highest point of trajectory to the roof. It is free fall. Find time.

d. You know the horizontal distance. In the horizontal direction, the velocity is constant. Use the whole time of flight to get the velocity.

ehild
 

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