How Fast and at What Angle Must a Daredevil Jump to Cross a Canyon?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a daredevil attempting to jump across a canyon, requiring calculations related to projectile motion. The context includes determining initial and final speeds, as well as the angle of landing, given specific heights and the width of the canyon.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss breaking down the motion into horizontal and vertical components, considering the effects of gravity and the lack of horizontal acceleration during the jump. There are attempts to apply kinematic equations to find the necessary parameters for the jump.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing hints and suggesting methods for analyzing the problem. There is recognition of the need to consider both horizontal and vertical motions separately, but no consensus on a specific approach has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the initial and final heights, as well as the width of the canyon, which are critical to solving the problem. There is an acknowledgment of the constraints imposed by the physics of projectile motion.

Dan66Stang
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Hey guys/girls, I would appreciate some help on a problem that I am having trouble with.

A daredevil jumps his motorcycle across a canyon. If his acceleration is 9.81 m/s^2 downward, determine:

a) the initial speed Vo required to complete the jump.
b) the final speed Vf.
c) The surface angle theta required at the end of the jump to ensure a smooth landing.

Okay here's some info about the jump.

Initial height = Ho = 70m
Final height = Hf = 35m
The canyon is 100m wide

Help would be appreciated, thanks.
 
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what i would do is use x = x0 +vt + at^2 and plug in the appropriate numbers for both the x and y coordinates. and then for the angle you just plug in the x and y speeds for tangent and take that angle.
 
Well, here are some hints. I would break this down into components. Find the motion in a horizontal motion then vertical, and then combine your vectors.
 
fizzzzzzzzzzzy said:
what i would do is use x = x0 +vt + at^2 and plug in the appropriate numbers for both the x and y coordinates. and then for the angle you just plug in the x and y speeds for tangent and take that angle.

This will not work for the x direction, since there is no acceleration in that direction when he is in the air.
 

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