Maximum height of launched ball

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A ball launched at a 28-degree angle with an initial velocity of 53 m/s reaches a maximum height after being dropped from a platform 12.5 meters high. The time of flight is calculated to be 5.54 seconds, and the ball lands 259.25 meters away. The maximum height can be determined by recognizing that it occurs halfway through the ball's trajectory. The relevant equations involve the vertical and horizontal components of the initial velocity, with the maximum height reached when the vertical position is at its peak. The discussion emphasizes using symmetry in projectile motion to simplify calculations for maximum height.
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Homework Statement


A ball is launched at an angle of 28 degrees off a platform. The initial velocity is 53m/s. When dropped straight down, the ball hits the ground after 1.6 seconds.
What is the maximum height of the ball?

Homework Equations


Xf = Xi + Vi(t) + (1/2)(a)(t^2)
Vix = (Vi)(cos@)

The Attempt at a Solution


I was able to figure out the height of the platform from which the ball was launched, using the the 1.6s times gravity, to get 12.5m high.

I figured out that the ball traveled 5.54 seconds by solving for t in the equation Yf = Yi + Viy(t) + (1/2)(g)(t^2) and Viy=(Vi)(sin@). Using this, I found that the ball landed 259.25m away.

I was thinking I could use the equation of the y/x-graph to find the two X-values when Y = 0, and find Y at the middle X point, to get the highest point of the ball.
Which equation exactly represents this y/x-graph line? Any other suggestions would be highly appreciated!
 
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You've pretty much got it, though there's no need to graph.

Initial velocity v_i_y = v_i sin \theta. Due to the ball's path's symmetry, maximum height will be reached exactly halfway, temporally and spatially, between the two points where the ball is 12.5 meters off the ground. So plug in this value for Y_f and Y_i and calculate how much time it takes for the ball to complete this portion of its path. Then just keep in mind that maximum height is reached in half this time.
 
swuster said:
maximum height will be reached exactly halfway, temporally and spatially, between the two points where the ball is 12.5 meters off the ground.

Of course!
Thank you for your prompt assistance :)
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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