How Long Does It Take for a Launched Ball to Hit the Wall?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Huski
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Motion
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a ball launched from a point with an initial speed and angle, aiming to determine the time it takes for the ball to hit a wall located at a specific distance. The subject area pertains to kinematics in two dimensions, considering both horizontal and vertical motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the initial conditions and attempt to resolve the time of flight by focusing on the horizontal motion first. There is uncertainty about how to incorporate the vertical motion and the final height when the ball hits the wall.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided corrections and clarifications regarding the equations used. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationship between the horizontal and vertical components of motion, with some guidance offered on prioritizing the x-direction calculations.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of inconsistencies in the problem statement and the diagram, which have led to confusion. Participants are also addressing the need to clarify the final height of the ball upon hitting the wall.

Huski

Homework Statement


*see attachment*[/B]
A ball is launched from (0,0) with an initial speed of 18.0 m/s at a 60 degree angle (as shown above) above the horizontal. The ball starts at the floor and 20.0 m left of a wall. Neglect air resistance. The ball hits the wall at some time.

A. Calculate when the ball hits the wall.

Homework Equations


[/B]
1.) v_{f}=v_{i}+at

2.) x=x_{o}+v_{ox}\cdot t+\dfrac{1}{2}\cdot a_{x}\cdot t

3.) y=y_{o}+v_{oy}\cdot t+\dfrac{1}{2}\cdot a_{y}\cdot t

The Attempt at a Solution



Given:
v_{o}=18m/s
x_{o}=0m
y_{o}=0m
x_{wall}=20m
v_{ox}=18cos(60°)
v_{oy}=18sin(60°)
a_{x}=0
a_{y}=-9.8m/s^2

I solved for the vector components
v_{ox}=18cos(60°)=15.6m/s

v_{oy}=18sin(60°)=9m/s

I don't know my y component of how high the ball will go and if I solve for the y-component (equation 3), I have all the variables except for the 'y' on the left hand of the equation. I need to solve for 't' (time), but I don't know how to get y first? The y on the left side is the final height. Usually, I deal with problems when the ball hits the ground and I can set y = 0 (since 0 is the ground). Here, the ball hits the wall and we are not sure what y (the final height) is equal to, any hints? Thank you.
 

Attachments

  • Capture.PNG
    Capture.PNG
    14.5 KB · Views: 506
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
None of the numbers in your equations match the statement problem or the diagram (the statement and diagram don't match each other). Please present one consistent problem and show your calculations for that problem.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Huski
That was an accident. I had two different problems and I copied the wrong one, let me edit that.
 
Huski said:
18cos(60°)=15.6m/s
Try that again. And the vy.

Your equations 2 and 3 seem to be missing something at the end.

Try working with the x direction first.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Huski
Oh, I need to solve for x, okay thanks.

x=x_{o}+v_{ox}t+\dfrac{1}{2}(0)t^2

20=0+9t+\dfrac{1}{2}(0)t^2

20=9t

t=2.22 seconds

I think this will give me the time the ball hits the wall? So we don't care about the y-direction?
Also, I forgot to square the two t in the 2 and 3 equations. Thanks for that.

Fixes:
18\cos(60)=9m/s

18\sin(60)=15.6m/s

x=x_{o}+v_{ox}\cdot t+\dfrac{1}{2}\cdot a_{x}\cdot t^2

y=y_{o}+v_{oy}\cdot t+\dfrac{1}{2}\cdot a_{y}\cdot t^2
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

Replies
49
Views
4K
Replies
12
Views
1K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
6K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
5K