How High Does the Ball Hit the Cliff?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a projectile motion problem involving a ball thrown towards a cliff. The original poster presents calculations related to the time it takes for the ball to reach the cliff, its height upon impact, and its speed at that moment. They express confusion about determining the time at which the ball reaches its maximum height.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the angle of projection and the initial vertical velocity but questions their results regarding the time to reach maximum height. Other participants question the method used to find the angle and suggest alternative approaches for determining the time of flight.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, offering different methods for calculating the angle and time. There is a mix of interpretations regarding the calculations, and while some guidance has been provided, no consensus has been reached on the correct approach.

Contextual Notes

There are discrepancies in the values used by participants, such as distances and velocities, which may affect their calculations. The original poster's assumptions about neglecting air resistance and the height of the man are also noted.

Bryon
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A man standing 31 m from the base of a vertical cliff throws a ball with a speed of 38 m/s aimed directly at a point 5 m above the base of the cliff.

Question:

How long does it take the ball to reach the cliff? 0.82s

Neglecting air resistance and the height of the man, calculate the height above the base of the cliff at which the ball hits. 1.66m

How fast is the ball moving when it reaches the cliff? 37.3m/s

Here is where I am having trouble...

At what time does the ball reach its largest vertical height?

I am sure that I have to find the intitial vertial velocity:

31 = 38cos(x)(0.82) where x is the angle x = 5.8 degrees


vy0 = 38sin(x) vy0 calculated to be 3.84

vf = v0 + at
0 = 3.84 + (-9.8)t = 0.39s

time to max height i figured to be 0.39s

This is the incorrect answer, what did I do wrong? Any suggestions?

Thanks!
 
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I don't know how you got your value for x but I found a different value by putting x=arctan(A/B) where A = distance between man and base of cliff, and B = height of the cliff at which man is aiming.
 
Hey I have a very similar problem. How did you get a time of 0.82s. My numbers were 28m, 7m, and V=33 m/s. I tried using inverse tan 7/28 to get theta, and then used that theta in t = (33 cos theta)/28. but that's wrong, can someone help?
 
r34racer01 said:
Hey I have a very similar problem. How did you get a time of 0.82s. My numbers were 28m, 7m, and V=33 m/s. I tried using inverse tan 7/28 to get theta, and then used that theta in t = (33 cos theta)/28. but that's wrong, can someone help?

[tex]v = \frac{d}{t}[/tex]
therefore
[tex]t = \frac{d}{v}[/tex]

Instead, you wrote t=v/d. You multiplied cos(theta) by 33 and divided by 28, but 28 is distance and 33 is velocity. Alternatively, you can get the result by finding the length of the line between the ball thrower and the point on the cliff he is aiming using Pythagorean theorem. (which is basically what you're finding when multiplying 28 by cos(theta))
 
Last edited:

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