Initial Velocity of a projectile, how?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the initial velocity required for a projectile to reach a target at a specified distance and height, given the launch angle. The subject area includes kinematics and projectile motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using kinematic equations to relate the horizontal and vertical motion of the projectile. There are attempts to express time in terms of horizontal distance and to derive relationships involving initial velocity and launch angle. Some participants question the interpretation of the problem and the calculations involved.

Discussion Status

Several participants are actively engaging with the problem, sharing their equations and calculations. There is recognition of errors in calculations, and some guidance is offered regarding the setup of the equations. However, there is no explicit consensus on a final approach or solution yet.

Contextual Notes

The problem involves specific values for the launch angle, initial and final positions, and the height of the target. There is mention of a diagram accompanying the problem, which may influence interpretations of the setup.

free-node-5
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Initial Velocity of a projectile, how?

If I have a problem that says the x and y distance of a target from a starting position, and only gives the angle at which the particle is launched, how do I find the required initial Velocity for its launch?



I've been given the following equations to work with:
Vf = Vi + at
xf = xi + Vit + (.5)at2
Vf2 = Vi2 + 2ad




I've spent hours trying to find a solution like this and can't seem to get anywhere. At one point I wrote out a huge equation with a bunch of trig stuff and it said a human threw a ball at over 513m/s so I know it must have been wrong.
One line I have written in my work says:
1.05=( Visin43 )/( Vicos43 ) - ( 4.9 * 9 )/( Vi cos 43 )
but I'm just asking in general, how do you do this?
 
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If you are given the x and y distance, in general, you use the first equation to solve for t in terms of x then plug that in the second equation, That gives you y as a function of x with the initial speed and angle as parameters. Use the third equation to find the maximum height reached by the projectile, in general.
 


I took what you said to heart and I still seem to just be making a mess.

Here are a few lines from my work:
1.05 = Vy(xf/Yix) - 4.9 ( xf2 / Vix2 )
...
1.05 = 9 tan43 - 4.9 ( 80 / Vix2 )
...
Vix = .136 ?
...
t = xf / Vix
t = 9 / .136 = 66.176

seems like a long time for something to get to a target that close :-/


Do you think you could show me or maybe just give an example?
My values are [tex]\theta[/tex]=43(degrees), xi = 0, yi = 0, xf = 9, yf = 1.05

thanks
 


Can you state the problem exactly the way it is given? Your interpretation of the given quantities may be in error.
 


quoting is probably not a good idea but trust me they were pretty straight-forward
There was even a diagram below the problem

--
A guy who's 2 meters tall, stands 9 meters horizontally from a ball-hoop mounted 3.05m high.
He throws the ball at an angle of 43 degrees from the horizontal. How hard must he through the ball (m/s) for it to go into the hoop but not hit the backboard?
--
 


free-node-5 said:
I took what you said to heart and I still seem to just be making a mess.

Here are a few lines from my work:
1.05 = Vy(xf/Yix) - 4.9 ( xf2 / Vix2 )
...
1.05 = 9 tan43 - 4.9 ( 80 / Vix2 )
...
Vix = .136 ?
This equation is correct.
But Vix is wrong. Check the calculation.
 


extreme thanks

I'm not sure what I did at this point because I failed so many times but when i fixed that mistake, I managed to get to a correct final solution
 

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