How Does Reducing Earth's Gravity Affect the Time a Thrown Ball Takes to Return?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the effect of reducing Earth's gravity from g to g/6 on the time it takes for a thrown ball to return to the thrower. The initial reasoning presented by the user Gear2d correctly concludes that the time increases by a factor of 6 due to the decrease in acceleration. However, the user initially used an incorrect equation for projectile motion. The correct equation to apply in this scenario is v² - v₁ = at, which clarifies the relationship between velocity, acceleration, and time in this context.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, specifically projectile motion.
  • Familiarity with kinematic equations, particularly v² - v₁ = at.
  • Knowledge of gravitational acceleration and its effects on motion.
  • Ability to manipulate equations to solve for unknown variables.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the kinematic equations in detail, focusing on their applications in projectile motion.
  • Explore the implications of varying gravitational forces on different objects.
  • Learn about the relationship between velocity, acceleration, and time in various physical scenarios.
  • Investigate real-world applications of reduced gravity environments, such as space missions.
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, educators teaching projectile motion, and anyone interested in the effects of gravity on motion dynamics.

Gear2d
Messages
49
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


If I throw a ball straight up to a height h with velocity v and it takes the ball time t to go up and back to my hands, by how much would time increase or decrease if gravity on Earth where changed from g to g/6?

Homework Equations



v = a*t

The Attempt at a Solution



I wanted make sure what I am thinking was correct. I thought about this problem as a projectile problem and said that t = (v*sin(theta))/a, where "a" is acceleration. Now since the ball was thrown straight up, I made sin(theta) to sin(90). So the problem comes out to be t=v/a, and since "a" decreases by a factor of 6 that means time increase by a factor of 6. Would this reasoning be the correct way to do it?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Gear2d said:
v = a*t

Hi Gear2d! :smile:

Your reasoning and your result are right … but your initial equation is wrong.

The general equation is v2 - v1 = at …

so what do you think it is in this particular case? :smile:
 

Similar threads

8.01 MIT OCW PS1.4: Throw and Catch (Kinematics)
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Solving a Ball Thrown off a Cliff: How Long Does it Take?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
A ball is thrown w/initial speed vi at an angle 𝜃i with the horizontal
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Oblique soccer shot calculation task
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
4K
Comparing the Speeds of Thrown Balls at Ground Level
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Calculating Time of Flight & Velocity of a Ball Thrown Upwards
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
Spherical ball rolling back and forth in a bowl
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
2K
How Does Projectile Angle Affect Asymptotic Behavior in Physics Graphs?
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
3K
Initial velocity given time and angle
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Ball Release and Thrown to reach ground at the same time
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K