How to calculate projectile cordinates?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the trajectory coordinates of a projectile, specifically a ball subjected to a force at an angle. Participants explore the necessary equations and concepts related to projectile motion, including the effects of gravity and the initial conditions required for calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asks how to calculate the trajectory of a ball given a mass and a force applied at a 45-degree angle, with gravity considered.
  • Another participant suggests using equations of motion to determine velocity and displacement in both x and y directions, emphasizing the need for initial velocity.
  • A participant questions the duration of the applied force, indicating that without a time component, the ball would not move.
  • Some participants argue that a force must be applied over time for the ball to gain acceleration and move, referencing Newton's First Law.
  • There is a discussion about the importance of knowing the initial velocity after the force acts on the ball to calculate the trajectory.
  • One participant provides kinematic equations and emphasizes the need for multiple defined variables to solve for unknowns.
  • Another participant introduces a formula for calculating range but notes that initial velocity is still needed for its application.
  • Concerns are raised about assuming initial velocity is zero, as this would lead to no displacement.
  • Participants highlight that gravity should be treated as a negative acceleration in calculations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for initial velocity and the role of time in applying force, but there remains disagreement on how to approach the problem given the information provided. The discussion does not reach a consensus on how to calculate the trajectory without additional information.

Contextual Notes

Key limitations include the lack of information regarding the duration of the force application and the initial velocity after the force acts on the ball. The discussion also highlights the dependency on definitions of initial conditions and the implications of treating gravity as a negative value.

leozeo
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how to calculate projectile cordinates??

I have a ball of mass 1kg and 100N force is applied on it to move ball in upward direction at an angle of 45. So how do i calculate the coordinates to show the trajectory of the ball.

no air resistance.
ball just moves in upward direction when force applied on it.
gravity=10 m/s^2

please guide me how to solve this??
which formulas to be used??


thanks in advance

--
leozeo
 
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Hi leozeo, welcome to PF :smile:

First off, take the following equation of motion [tex]V = u + at[/tex], where u=initial velocity, v=final velocity, a=acceleration, t=time, for the speed at any given time. Take this equation for your x direction, i.e. its speed horizontally. And take it in your y direction i.e. its speed vertically. So you will have [tex]V_x = u_x + a_xt[/tex] and [tex]V_y = u_y + a_yt[/tex].
Now try this for its displacement using the formula [tex]s = u t + \frac{1}{2} at^2[/tex].
 
Last edited:
thanks for reply

but i didn't get u

try to explain with any example
 
My initial reaction is that you're missing some information. How long is the 100N force added to the ball?

What I'm getting at is this:

- If the 100N force is constant, then the ball will travel in 45* trajectory at a certain rate of acceleration (do a simple FBD and you'll see this phenomenon).

- Otherwise, you need to know how long the 100N force is being imparted on the 1kg mass to figure out a velocity. That velocity will then be effected in the y-direction by gravity (velocity will begin to decrease, hit zero, and then become negative) once the force is removed.

Is this an impact force (how long is the impact) or a constant force?
 
it just acts once on the ball. and consider that time as 0.
 
leozeo said:
it just acts once on the ball. and consider that time as 0.

Then the ball never moves, it stays sitting on the ground because no acceleration is applied to it.
 
Mech_Engineer said:
Then the ball never moves, it stays sitting on the ground because no acceleration is applied to it.

Beat me to it. Force (resulting in a mass's acceleration) has to be imparted on the object for some period of time, no matter how small, for displacement to occur. See Newton's First Law.
 
as the ball thrown upwards with some force the ball remains in motion until it reaches its maximum height.

after that point it starts coming down.
 
thanks for reply

instead of writing this much theory

please give me the appropriate formulas which would be more helpful
 
  • #10
We're trying to do that. It's basically simple kinematics equations, but you need to determine initial velocities. And, to do that, you need a time that the force is acting on the ball.
 
  • #11
what i have done is this

"[URL
[/URL]


and now i want to replace that velocity with force and mass.

and based on that force and mass the ball should move

thanks in advance

--
Leozeo
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #12
leozeo said:
instead of writing this much theory

please give me the appropriate formulas which would be more helpful

We've barely covered any theory at all, you want us to spoon-feed you an answer which isn't what this forum is about.

The equations you need are in the very first reply in this thread. You need to understand the application of the equations to properly utilize them, otherwise you'll never undestand what it is you're doing in the first place.

Given this equation: [tex]s = u t + \frac{1}{2} at^2[/tex]

And this equation: [tex]F = m a[/tex]

Perhaps you could try a simple substitution, like substituting [tex]\frac{F}{m}[/tex] for [tex]a[/tex] in the first equation?
 
Last edited:
  • #13
sorry i left the link

the link is

http://zeostar.googlepages.com/HitTarget.html"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #14
The link you just provided show and angle and a VELOCITY, not a force. Given an initial velocity, as shown in the link, you're looking at a simple kinematics equation suing some of the equations already shown.
 
  • #15
PHP:
and now i want to replace that velocity with force and mass.

and based on that force and mass the ball should move


--
leozeo
 
  • #16
I guess I'll write up a more thorough answer here to help you understand what we're getting at.

First off, you've got to remember you kinematic equations:

[tex]d=v_{i}+\frac{at^{2}}{2}[/tex]

[tex]v^{2}_{f}=v^{2}_{i}+2ad[/tex]

[tex]v_{f}=v_{i}+at[/tex]

[tex]d=\frac{v_{i}+v_{f}}{2}t[/tex]

In these equations,

[tex]d[/tex] = displacement
[tex]v_{i}[/tex] = initial velocity
[tex]v_{f}[/tex] = final velocity
[tex]a[/tex] = acceleration
[tex]t[/tex] = time


Also, remember that Force, F, is a function of mass, m, and acceleration.

[tex]F=ma[/tex]

You've given us a Force and a mass. From this information, we can get an acceleration. That's two variables (mass and acceleration) that are defined. You'll notice that all of the equations above use four varibales. That means that, in order to solve for an unknown variable in a kinematic situation, you need at least three defined variables.

What we're saying is that you don't have enough information to calculate an answer.
 
  • #17
thanks a ton

its of great help and i 'll try to implement these suggestions in my application

--
Leozeo
 
  • #18
There is also another method of calculating range.
Where X=Vi[tex]^{}2[/tex]Sin(2[tex]\Theta[/tex])/-g

X=Range
Vi=Initial Velocity
[tex]\Theta[/tex]=Angle
G= Acceleration due to Gravity

However again without a method for calculating the Initial Velocity
you don't have quite enough information! If you could get flight time it would be possible to calculate.
 
  • #19
thanks for reply

if the object is placed at rest then the initial velocity will be 0

so consider initial velocity as 0.


--
leozeo
 
  • #20
leozeo -

You're still missing information. You need to know either the time period that the force is acting on the mass, the distance the mass travel (either x- or y-direction), or the velocity after the force has acted upon it.

Remember that acceleration is the change in velocity over the change in time

[tex]\frac{\partial V}{\partial t}[/tex]

By this definition, acceleration cannot be 'instantaneous,' but must exist over some finite time element, not matter how short. In the definition above, the change in velocity would be due to the force acting on the mass.

I think you can see what I'm getting at in the equations I mentioned in this post.
 
  • #21
Leozeo-
In an equation like this you never consider the initial velocity zero, the initial velocity is taken after the force has acted upon the object. Without the force the ball won't move

You can see this in the equation I wrote, If you plugged in zero, then the entire equation is multiplied by zero and therefore you get zero range. You need the velocity after the force has acted to get a range.

Where did you get this problem? If its off of homework its not solvable. If you built a projectile launcher, do some trials you'll get your answer soon enough!
 
  • #22
Also, when doing equations, acceleration due to gravity is a negative number wether your using -9.8 m/s2 or -32 ft/s2

Gravity never acts in a positive direction so you'll get funky numbers if you plug it in as a positive value!
 

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