How Do You Calculate Spring Stretch for Specific Launch Distances and Angles?

[psp101]

Homework Statement

hi this is my first time posting here but I'm been on the forum a lot just looking for help on this assignment I have

I need to make a spring laucher that's able to change angles and distance
heres an example of my lancher

A spring is launched to a box The target is at a certain distance and height. The question is how do I find the amount I need to strech the spring to get it into the air. bonus how do I add air friction to the equation becaue it obviously makes a diffence

Homework Equations

heres given
my spring constant
distance between spring and box
height of box
angle since its determine by the user

F=kx

x=v0cost

v=v0sin0t+1/2gt

The Attempt at a Solution

no idea how to solve this

 

[psp101]

nm about the picture I can't post a image until I have 15 posts but its simply an L shaped design with a protractor on its side and a ruler on the top where the spring is lanched

 

[Texag]

This may help: Use the formulas for the amount of potential energy in the spring at a certain distance, then equate that with the kinetic energy of the spring once it has left, this will give you the velocity related to the stretch in the spring.

 

[tiny-tim]

Welcome to PF!

Hi psp101! Welcome to PF!

v=v0sin0t+1/2gt

No … you mean y = v0sin0t - 1/2gt^2.

And you need to find the other value of t (other than 0, that is) for which y = 0.

Then you can use the x formula.

Is this a practical experiment, so you have to make a real launcher?

If so, how are you going to get the spring to go straight?

Springs are meant to be bendy, and they'll bend sideways as well as up-and-down.

Won't you need something like a long tube?

As to air resistance, I would expect a spring would be horribly un-aerodynamic.

They don't build aeroplanes spring-shaped, do they (oh … except maybe the Boing … 911! )?

 

[psp101]

lol thanks for the help actually the spring is very straght all I need to do is strech it a certian amount with the ruler to meause it to get it across a distance.the only problem before was that I did'nt know how to find that amount I need to strech it to.

I already built the design but I noice the equation is slighty off I just guessed its because of air friction.