Kicking a Rugby Ball to Clear 3m Crossbar

[Kawakaze]

Homework Statement

A rugby ball of mass 400 grams is to be kicked from ground level to clear
a crossbar 3m high. The goal line is 12m from the ball, and the junior
rugby player can impart a maximum speed of 4√g ms−1 to the ball.

(a) Modelling the ball as a projectile moving under gravity alone, what is
the minimum launch angle that will succeed? What is the range of
the ball when launched at this angle and speed?

The Attempt at a Solution

Not quite sure how to approach this one at all. The ball would need to go high enough, from the initial vertical speed given to it - 4√g.sinθ. That by the time it reaches the crossbar in a time we can calculate from its horizontal component, it is exactly 3m above the ground. I get the feeling I am missing something though.

 

[Muphrid]

I would find the time it takes for the ball to reach the crossbar as a function of angle. Then, you should be able to find an expression for the height of the ball at that time and see what constraints there are on the angle.

 

[Kawakaze]

Thanks for the reply Muphrid. I made some progress thanks to your suggestion. I have an expression for the position vector. First problem is I don't know if they want a numerical or algebraic answer.

r=4t√g cos(α)i + (4t√g sin(α)-1/2 gt²)j + C

I need to get find the integration constant first, the only values i have are the initial values of (0,0) at time=0, giving C as zero, i don't know if this is correct.

As I need to find the minimum angle I assume that the position vector to the top of the wall is key to this (12i, 3j). Now I am stuck again.

 

[Muphrid]

You might want to check the problem statement or something; you said that the player can impart a velocity of "4 \sqrt g" in meters per second, yet if g is Earth's gravitational acceleration, that makes no sense in terms of units. Until that is cleared up, nothing else about the problem will make sense.

Otherwise, yes, you've reasoned out the integration constant correctly. The easiest thing to do is to solve for \cos \alpha and then use inverse trig to get \alpha from that.

 

[Villyer]

You might want to check the problem statement or something; you said that the player can impart a velocity of "4 \sqrt g" in meters per second, yet if g is Earth's gravitational acceleration, that makes no sense in terms of units. Until that is cleared up, nothing else about the problem will make sense.

I would assume that it just means 4\sqrt{9.8}\frac{m}{s^{2}}.

 

[azizlwl]

2 constrains at time=t
1. x=12m
2.y≥3m or y=(3+z)m where z≥0

t=x/U_x

y+z=U_yt - 0.5gt²

minimum value of z=0 imply minimum angle.

3=U_y(x/U_x) - 0.5g(x/U_x)²

 

[Kawakaze]

Azizlwl, thanks for the reply, but can you explain it a little more in depth please, i don't understand what your symbols mean, especially the z. Is U initial velocity?

 

[azizlwl]

Azizlwl, thanks for the reply, but can you explain it a little more in depth please, i don't understand what your symbols mean, especially the z. Is U initial velocity?

Yes U is the intial velocity.
z is a distance above the crossbar.
U_x initial horizontal velocity
U_y initial vertical velocity

 

[Kawakaze]

Thanks! One last question if I may, what is the significance of the integration constant that appears when integrating the velocity vector to get the position vector, and where does it appear in your solution. Cheers!

 

[azizlwl]

Thanks! One last question if I may, what is the significance of the integration constant that appears when integrating the velocity vector to get the position vector, and where does it appear in your solution. Cheers!

y₀

y=y₀+ut+at²