Is This the Correct Method for Calculating the Time of Flight for a Projectile?

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SUMMARY

The correct method for calculating the time of flight for a projectile projected downward at a 10° angle with an initial speed of 20 m/s from a height of 10 m involves using the equation s = ut - 1/2at². The quadratic formula is applied to solve for time, yielding two solutions: one negative and one positive. The negative solution is disregarded as it does not apply to the physical scenario. The analysis confirms that the projectile will reach the target height twice, once before t=0 and once after.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of projectile motion principles
  • Familiarity with quadratic equations and the quadratic formula
  • Knowledge of kinematic equations, specifically s = ut - 1/2at²
  • Basic trigonometry to resolve angles in projectile motion
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so_gr_lo
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Homework Statement
Find time of flight of particle projected down at 10° to horizontal at initial speed 20 ms^-1 at height 10m.
Relevant Equations
s = ut -1/2at^2
These questions normally have initial velocity = 0, so that one of the t terms cancels. In this case u = 20ms^-1 so I end up with a quadratic. Which is fine if I plug it into the quadratic formula as one result is -ve so can be ignored, while the other gives t as +ve. just wondering if this is the correct way of calculating the time of flight. Attempt at question below

ACC5B820-9B15-4049-8BB7-8EA3868B6E2E.jpeg
 
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Looks good to me. (All that matters is the vertical motion.)
 
so_gr_lo said:
Homework Statement:: Find time of flight of particle projected down at 10° to horizontal at initial speed 20 ms^-1 at height 10m.
Relevant Equations:: s = ut -1/2at^2

These questions normally have initial velocity = 0, so that one of the t terms cancels. In this case u = 20ms^-1 so I end up with a quadratic. Which is fine if I plug it into the quadratic formula as one result is -ve so can be ignored, while the other gives t as +ve. just wondering if this is the correct way of calculating the time of flight. Attempt at question below

View attachment 274557
Yes, that's the right way.
The reason you also get a negative solution is that your equation represents an entire parabola in which, at t=0, the particle is moving down at the given angle, speed and height. So it will be at the target height twice, once before t=0 and once after.
 

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