How Does Gravity on Planet X Compare to Earth's?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the acceleration due to gravity on Planet X, which is determined by analyzing the motion of a ball rolled off a table in a starship. The ball lands at a distance of 2.76D from the foot of the table, where D is the distance it would have landed on Earth. Using kinematic equations, the user assumed an initial horizontal velocity of 1 m/s and a table height of 1.5 m, leading to a calculated gravity of 1.3 m/s² on Planet X. This conclusion is based on the time of flight and horizontal distance traveled by the ball.

PREREQUISITES
  • Kinematic equations of motion
  • Understanding of gravitational acceleration
  • Basic algebra for solving equations
  • Concept of projectile motion
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of kinematic equations in physics
  • Explore the effects of varying gravitational acceleration on projectile motion
  • Learn about the differences in gravity on various celestial bodies
  • Investigate the impact of initial velocity on the trajectory of projectiles
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Students studying physics, educators teaching kinematics, and anyone interested in the effects of gravity on different planets.

J89
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Homework Statement


Inside a starship at rest on earth, a ball rolls off the top of a horizontal table and lands at a distance D from the foot of the table. This starship lands now at a planet called Planet X. The commander Captain Cudos rolls the same ball off the same table with the same initial speed as on Earth and finds that it lands a distance of 2.76D from the foot of the table. What is the acceleration due to gravity on Planet X?

Homework Equations


x=(V0cosa0)t
y=(V0sina0)t - 1/2gt^2
Vx=V0cosa0
Vy=V0sina0-gt

The Attempt at a Solution



I made up the initial speed since it was not given and assumed a time. and used y=(V0sina0)t - 1/2gt^2...came out completely wrong :(
 
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I made up a situation as well. I let the height of the table = 1.5 m and the horizontal velocity of the ball be 1 m/s. I then used the kinematic equation x= x(initial) + v(initial)t + .5at^2. I analyzed the vertical data for Earth to see how long it was in the air, and got .55 sec. I then used the same kinematic for the x direction, except this time I used that time to see how far it went. I got .55 m. This is our "D" value. So, on planet x it travel 2.76 D. We get 1.52 m for the distance traveled for the ball. Since I choose a velocity horizontally of 1 m/s, that ball on planet x traveled for 1.52 sec before hitting the ground. Now, analyze the y direction using yet again the same kinematic and we can solve for a, or the acceleration due to gravity on planet x. Assuming i didn't mess up anything, it should be 1.3 m/s^2.
 

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