How Far Should a Helicopter Drop a Food Packet for Flood Victims?

AI Thread Summary
A helicopter delivering food packets to flood victims must account for horizontal motion when dropping the packets, as they will not fall straight down but follow a projectile trajectory. The initial velocity of the packet matches the helicopter's horizontal speed, meaning it will continue moving forward while descending. The confusion arises from the assumption that the helicopter can drop the packet directly above the victims; however, it must release the packet from a lateral distance to ensure it lands accurately. The problem requires understanding projectile motion principles, including the need to calculate the drop distance based on the helicopter's speed and altitude. Proper application of motion equations is essential for determining the correct drop point.
  • #51
It is, however, about a projectile in free fall from some initial, nonzero height, which means you must have some other form of the equations of motion (since your current version does not apply in that situation). It should probably look somewhat similar to the form given to you by BiGyElLoW above.
 
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  • #52
gracy said:
equation for Range =u square sin2theta/g
time of flight=2u sin theta/g
maximum height=u square sin square theta/2g
here u=initial velocity
what i am missing?
is u not equal to initial velocity.then u is what ?

Sorry I meant to add this quote to that post.

gracy said:
i am sorry but i didn't understand your post.
What don't you understand? I can't help you if you're not more specific.
 
  • #53
BiGyElLoWhAt said:
Sorry I meant to add this quote to that post.What don't you understand? I can't help you if you're not more specific.
that's what i didn't understand,as you had not added that quote.I want to ask a question,what would be maximum height in vertical free fall projectile,as it is going downward,maximum height would be height from where it is dropped?
 
  • #54
Intuitively, yes. Plug in the values to the projectile motion equation i gave you (except use y) solve for the maximum.
 
  • #55
BiGyElLoWhAt said:
Intuitively, yes. Plug in the values to the projectile motion equation i gave you (except use y) solve for the maximum.
let h=10 meters=height from where ball is dropped.and initial velocity=0 (both in x and y)I choose upward direction to be positive.and g=10 m/s square now
height at any given time t=10+0 - 5( t square)so that answer would always be less than 10.
 
  • #56
Yes it will, which means mathematically (as well as intuitively), the initial height for an object being released from rest (or at least 0 vertical velocity) is the maximum.
 
  • #57
BiGyElLoWhAt said:
Yes it will, which means mathematically (as well as intuitively), the initial height for an object being released from rest (or at least 0 vertical velocity) is the maximum.
what would be example of object having some vertical velocity when dropped from some height ?i can't imagine one.actually i want to ask what is initial velocity in projectile?is it the velocity with which something is dropped or thrown?but something is dropped or thrown with some force not with velocity.then what is initial velocity in projectile
 
  • #58
An example would be if I had a ball in my hand while riding a skateboard, I went off of a ramp and was traveling upwards, then I simply let go.

You throw an object by exerting a force on the object over a time interval, which gives the object momentum, which is equal to mv. So you have given the object a velocity by exerting a force.
 
  • #59
BiGyElLoWhAt said:
An example would be if I had a ball in my hand while riding a skateboard, I went off of a ramp and was traveling upwards, then I simply let go.

You throw an object by exerting a force on the object over a time interval, which gives the object momentum, which is equal to mv. So you have given the object a velocity by exerting a force.
so you mean whenever force is applied for some time interval,it necessarily imparts momentum and in turn velocity ,this velocity is initial velocity.but i have a doubt how some objects have initial velocity zero?some force must have been present with which the object is thrown ,then why that force didn't give momentum and in turn velocity to object?
 
  • #60
gracy said:
but i have a doubt how some objects have initial velocity zero?
Just drop something from rest, don't throw it.
 
  • #61
Doc Al said:
Just drop something from rest, don't throw it.
hmmm...dropping something doesn't require force instead it is taking our force back which we were exerting by holding it.so in throwing case initial velocity can not be zero?
 
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  • #62
gracy said:
hmmm...dropping something doesn't require force instead it is taking our force back which we were exerting by holding it.so in throwing case initial velocity can not be zero?

Recall the First Newton's Law. It says something about inertial systems. Try to apply it to this problem. What inertial system would you consider using in this particular case?
Hint: try to find a system in which velocity of the dropping package will be easy to determine.
Hint 2: assume that air resistance is negligible, zero. What does it imply?
 
  • #63
MayCaesar said:
Recall the First Newton's Law. It says something about inertial systems. Try to apply it to this problem. What inertial system would you consider using in this particular case?
Hint: try to find a system in which velocity of the dropping package will be easy to determine.
Hint 2: assume that air resistance is negligible, zero. What does it imply?
Newton's first law of motion -An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force.how this can help me to get the answer of my question -in throwing case initial velocity can not be zero?
 
  • #64
gracy said:
Newton's first law of motion -An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force.how this can help me to get the answer of my question -in throwing case initial velocity can not be zero?
Suppose you are standing in your room holding an apple. You drop an apple on the floor by just opening your palm, without any additional motion. What is the initial vertical velocity of the apple? What is the initial horizontal velocity?
Now, suppose you are standing in a helicopter moving to the east at a constant velocity. You drop an apple on the floor inside helicopter. What are the initial vertical and horizontal velocities in your frame system (connected to the helicopter)?
Now let's consider our case: you drop the apple and it falls down to the ground. How are its horizontal and vertical velocities change over time in your frame system? And how is your frame system moving relative to the ground?

If you are confused about the way the object is dropped, I believe it is assumed that no one throws it with force, it is just held in hands and then starts falling down solely by the force of gravity.
 
  • #65
MayCaesar said:
Suppose you are standing in your room holding an apple. You drop an apple on the floor by just opening your palm, without any additional motion. What is the initial vertical velocity of the apple? What is the initial horizontal velocity?
zero.
 
  • #66
MayCaesar said:
Now, suppose you are standing in a helicopter moving to the east at a constant velocity. You drop an apple on the floor inside helicopter. What are the initial vertical and horizontal velocities in your frame system (connected to the helicopter)?
initial horizontal velocity=that constant velocity with which the helicopter was moving.initial vertical velocity=zero
 
  • #67
gracy said:
zero.
yes, it starts from rest, right?
 
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  • #68
gracy said:
initial horizontal velocity=that constant velocity with which the helicopter was moving.initial vertical velocity=zero
Yes, in that case the initial vertical velocity is zero but the horizontal initial velocity relative to the helicopter is also zero. The initial horizontal velocity relative to the ground is vox. When the package is dropped from the helicopter, the package is no more tied to the coordinate system of the helicopter but instead it is tied to the coordinate system of the Earth and we assume the surface of the Earth to be completely level when the distance traveled is "very small".
 
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  • #69
dropping something doesn't require force instead it is taking our force back which we were exerting by holding it.so in dropping case initial velocity can be zero.but in throwing case,force must be present to throw something that force always give momentum and in turn velocity .so initial velocity can not be zero in throwing object?
 
  • #70
gracy said:
dropping something doesn't require force instead it is taking our force back which we were exerting by holding
You don't have to throw it down to cause the ball to fall because the force of gravity causes the object to accelerate towards the Earth as you are no more providing the normal force to counter gravity.
 
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