How would I use momentum to calculate projectile range?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the additional range a long jumper gains by using halteres during a jump. The jumper's initial conditions include a mass of 78 kg and two halteres weighing 1.5 kg each, with a liftoff velocity of 9.5 m/s horizontally and 4 m/s vertically. The calculations involve momentum conservation and projectile motion equations to determine the horizontal distance added by the halteres. The final result indicates that the halteres increase the jump distance by approximately 55 cm. The conversation also addresses potential errors in the initial momentum equations and clarifies the jumper's velocity components.
Eclair_de_XII
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Homework Statement


"In the Olympiad, some athletes competing in the standing long jump used handheld weights called halteres to lengthen their jumps. The weights were swung up in front just before liftoff and then swung down and thrown backward during flight. Suppose a modern ##78kg## long jumper similarly uses two ##\frac{11}{2}kg## halteres, throwing them horizontally to the rear at his maximum height such that their horizontal velocity is zero relative to the ground. Let his liftoff velocity be ##v=\langle\frac{19}{2},4\rangle\frac{m}{s}## with or without the halteres and assume that he lands at the liftoff level. What distance would the use of halteres add to his range?

Homework Equations


##m_0=78kg##
##m_1=11kg##
##v_0=\langle\frac{19}{2},4\rangle\frac{m}{s}##
##x=(\frac{||v||^2}{g})(sin2\theta_0)##
##\theta_0=tan^{-1}(\frac{8}{19})##

The Attempt at a Solution


vbNWEgV.png

##p_0=(78kg)\langle\frac{19}{2},4\rangle\frac{m}{s}##
##Δp=(11kg)\langle0,4\rangle\frac{m}{s}##
##p_f=p_0+Δp##
##||v_0||=||\frac{p_0}{m_0}||##
##p_f=m_0p_0+m_1Δp##
##(m_0+m_1)v_f=m_0p_0+m_1Δp##
##v_f=\frac{m_0p_0+m_1Δp}{m_0+m_1}##
##||v_f||=\frac{1}{m_0+m_1}||m_0p_0+m_1Δp||##

I'm thinking that since the x-distance from the starting point and the point of maximum height is the same as the distance from the vertex to the landing spot, the x-distance between the maximum heights of the trajectories is the same as the x-distance between their landing spots. Forgive me; the FBD I drew on paint isn't to scale. Anyway, the final answer would come out to:

##Δx=(\frac{sin2\theta_0}{g})(||v_f||^2-||v_0||^2)##

Only problem, is that: ##||v_f||<||v_0||##. So I'm thinking that I messed up around this point.

##p_f=m_0p_0+m_1Δp##
##(m_0+m_1)v_f=m_0p_0+m_1Δp##
##v_f=\frac{m_0p_0+m_1Δp}{m_0+m_1}##
##||v_f||=(\frac{1}{m_0+m_1})||m_0p_0+m_1Δp||##

Can anyone tell me what is wrong with the relations that I used?
 
Last edited:
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Hold on, I forgot something: If the two halteres are moving ##0\frac{m}{s}## relative to the ground, then I can assume that the long jumper throws them back with a velocity of ##-v_{0x}##.
 
Eclair_de_XII said:
p0=(78kg)⟨192,4⟩msp0=(78kg)⟨192,4⟩ms
Edit: Yeah, the quote kind of butchered it.

I don't know if the quote (above) will come out the same or not. In your initial momentum equation, it looks like you didn't include the mass of the two halterers. Also, I'm not familiar with your notation. Does the lift off velocity indicate that the x component is 9.5 m/s and the y component is 4 m/s?
Edit changed 8.5 m/s to 9.5 m/s
 
TomHart said:
Does the lift off velocity indicate that the x component is 9.5 m/s and the y component is 4 m/s?

That's the momentum if the the halteres were not included. And yes.
 
Eclair_de_XII said:
That's the momentum if the the halteres were not included.
Doesn't he have them in his hands when he lifts off?
 
You're right. In any case, I found the answer already. This is the equation describing the act of throwing the halteres.

##m_1v_{0x}=m_0(v_{0x}+(\frac{m_1}{m_0})v_{0x})=m_1v_{0x}=m_0(v_{0x})(1+\frac{m_1}{m_0})##

These are the equations to find the difference in horizontal range had the long jumper not used the halteres.

##x_0=(\frac{||v_0||^2}{g})(sin2\theta_0)##
##x_f=(\frac{||v_0||^2}{g})(sin2\theta_0)+(v_{0x})(\frac{m_1}{m_0})t##
##Δx=x_f-x_0=(v_{0x})(\frac{m_1}{m_0})t##

This is to find the unknown ##t## it takes for the jumper to land.

##0=v_{0y}-gt##
##t=\frac{v_{0y}}{g}##

Substitute in, and--

##Δx=(v_{0x})(\frac{m_1}{m_0})t=(v_{0x})(\frac{m_1}{m_0})(\frac{v_{0y}}{g})=0.55m=55cm##

Someone correct me if I am mistaken in my thought process.
 
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