How High Does the Rock Go When Thrown from a Building?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the maximum height a rock reaches when thrown from a 16.3m building at a velocity of 31.6m/s and an angle of 28.1 degrees, while ignoring air resistance. Participants clarify the need to separate the motion into x and y components, using trigonometric functions to find initial velocities. They emphasize that the maximum height calculation should only consider vertical motion, and the correct approach involves using the time it takes for the rock to reach its peak. Additionally, the final velocity just before impact can be determined by recognizing that the downward velocity at the original height will equal the initial upward velocity but with a negative sign. The conversation highlights the importance of applying the correct equations for projectile motion and free fall to solve the problem accurately.
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A man stands on the roof of a building of height 16.3m and throws a rock with a velocity of magnitude 31.6m/s at an angle of 28.1 degrees above the horizontal. You can ignore air resistance

A.) Calculate the maximum height above the roof reached by the rock. Take free fall acceleration to be 9.80 m/s^2.

ok first i found vectors x and y at 28.1 degrees
cos(28)*31.6 = vector x
sin(28)*31.6 = vector y

x = 27.8752
y= 14.883

using this formula:
x(t) = x(0) + v(0)t + 1/2at^2
x(t) = 16.3 + (31.6m/s)t + 1/2(-9.8)t^2 <--- is that right how i set it up? is a a negative or positive number? and will there be two times? i know I am doing something wrong, i just don't know what...if i solve for t now, there will be two times, which i don't know what to do with it.

B.) Calculate the magnitude of the velocity of the rock just before it strikes the ground. Take free fall acceleration to be 9.80 m/s^2
 
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Here are some hints:

Remember,
V_{y} = V_{o}\sin(\theta)
V_{x} = V_{o}\cos(\theta)
V_{y} = 0 at max height
V_{x} is constant (this means same value always)

x(t) = 16.3 + (31.6m/s)t + 1/2(9.8)t^2 <--- is that right how i set it up? is a a negative or positive number? and will there be two times? i know I am doing something wrong, i just don't know what...

9.8 must be put -9.8 because is pointing down that acceleration. And also plug in your V_{y} value instead of just the initial V_{o}. Remember Projectile Motion it's just a mix of Free Fall Motion with Constant Velocity Motion. Read the hints!.

-Cyclovenom
 
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anyway, i solved for t and got 0,6.4489s

then plugged t in the position formula agian
x(t) = x(0) + v(0)t + 1/2at^2
and got 16.30251507
but the problem only wants the part above the buliding, so i minus 16.3 from it and got .0025 is that correct? (seems incorrect)
 
To find the maximum height, you should only be concerned with motion in the y-direction. Physically, you want to think of how long will it take for gravity to slow down the ball until it stops. Once you find this time, you can plug it in the y analog the equation you have in part a to find the maximum height.

In part b, you want to first calculate the y component of velocity as it hits the ground. When the rock is thrown upward and then comes back down to the initial height (16.3m), you should recognize the velocity in the y-direction (vy) at that point has the same numerical value as the initital vy but is negative since it's heading downward. You can use the following equation to find the final vy:

v_{y}^2 = v_{yo}^2 + 2.0 a_{y}(y-yo)

Now, using vx which doesn't change throughout the motion, you can now solve for the velocity magnitude
 
Ok let me give you a little help.

Y_{max} :
V_{y} = 0
So using this equation:
V = V_{o} + at
0 = V_{y} - gt_{max}
t_{max} = \frac{V_{y}}{g}

Now using this equation:
Y = Y_{o} + V_{o}t + \frac{1}{2}at^2
Y_{max} = Y_{0} + V_{y}t_{max} -\frac{1}{2}gt_{max}^2

Combining Equations:
Y_{max} = Y_{0} + V_{y}\frac{V_{y}}{g} - \frac{1}{2}g(\frac{V_{y}}{g})^2

Y_{max} = Y_{0} + \frac{V_{y}^2}{g} -\frac{1}{2}\frac{V_{y}^2}{g}

-Cyclovenom
 
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