How to Calculate Time and Displacement for a Horizontally Thrown Stone?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a stone thrown horizontally from a cliff. Participants are exploring how to calculate the time it takes for the stone to reach the ground and the horizontal displacement from the base of the cliff.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the separation of horizontal and vertical motion, with some suggesting that the time to fall can be derived from the height of the cliff and gravitational acceleration. Others inquire about calculating the horizontal displacement based on the stone's speed and the time of flight.

Discussion Status

There is an active exploration of the problem, with participants providing insights into the relevant equations and concepts. Some guidance has been offered regarding the relationship between vertical and horizontal motion, but no consensus has been reached on the specific calculations for displacement.

Contextual Notes

Participants are reminded of forum rules regarding homework assistance, emphasizing the importance of independent thought and exploration of kinematic equations.

hisoko
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Hi i need to know the formula to solve this question

stone is thrown off cliff horizontally at a speed ??m/s from the top of a cliff that's ??m high. How do i find the time it takes for the stone to touch the ground?
 
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the horizontal speed doesn't matter,

t=(2d/g)0.5

t is time
d is distance
g is acceleration due to gravity
 
Last edited:
Horizontal and vertical velocities and treated separately. So Throwing it horizontally is like dropping it straight down when from a vertical point of view.

s=ut + 1/2 *a*t^2

s-distance it falls (height of cliff)
u-initial velocity = 0 => ut=0
a-gravity (g)

so...t=(2s/g)^(1/2)
 
okay and to find the displacment? (distance from the base of the cliff to where the stone lands) from knowing only the height of cliff and speed of rock
 
hisoko said:
okay and to find the displacment? (distance from the base of the cliff to where the stone lands) from knowing only the height of cliff and speed of rock

It is against PF rules to give answers to homework questions. Try googling "kinematic equations" and post back your thoughts on the question, and we will be able to help you further. In future, please use the template with which you were provided:

 
You know the horizontal velocity (which is constant throughout) and you just figured out how long it is going to travel horizontally
 
hisoko said:
okay and to find the displacment? (distance from the base of the cliff to where the stone lands) from knowing only the height of cliff and speed of rock
:bugeye:
Well unless there's some highly unusaul morphology going on, it's pretty safe to say the (vertical) distance between the base of the cliff and where the stone lands would be 0.

I presume you're looking for horizontal distance in which case I'll give you a clue, s=d/t.
 

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