Need Help with Projectile Motion Problem

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves projectile motion, specifically a scenario where a ball is thrown horizontally from a height of 24.28 m and impacts the ground with a speed that is four times its initial speed. The original poster attempts to determine the initial speed of the ball based on the given conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculations for the vertical velocity and the time of fall, questioning how to relate the horizontal and vertical components of velocity at impact. There is also a consideration of the constant horizontal velocity and the implications of the problem's conditions.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to approach the final calculations, suggesting a relationship between the total velocity at impact and the initial horizontal velocity. However, there is no explicit consensus on the final steps, as one participant later retracted a previous comment that could have led to confusion.

Contextual Notes

There is an acknowledgment of the complexity of projectile motion problems and the potential for misunderstanding the components of velocity involved. The original poster's calculations are noted, but further clarification on the relationship between the components is still being explored.

Xiongster
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Homework Statement



I have a problem here and I just can't seem to figure it out. The problem is, A ball is thrown horizontally from a height of 24.28 m and hits the ground with a speed that is 4.0 times its initial speed. What was the initial speed?

2. The attempt at a solution

I've found the velocity in the y-direction by using the equation

v^2 = vo^2 + 2 a x, the velocity is 21.81 m/s.

I've found the time it takes for the ball to drop using the equation

v = vo + a t, t comes out to be 2.22s.

But here on out, I don't know what to do next, i know that vx is constant and acceleration is zero in the x-direction, but I'm unable to get anything more. Any help will be appreciated, thanks in advance!
 
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Xiongster said:

Homework Statement



I have a problem here and I just can't seem to figure it out. The problem is, A ball is thrown horizontally from a height of 24.28 m and hits the ground with a speed that is 4.0 times its initial speed. What was the initial speed?

2. The attempt at a solution

I've found the velocity in the y-direction by using the equation

v^2 = vo^2 + 2 a x, the velocity is 21.81 m/s.

I've found the time it takes for the ball to drop using the equation

v = vo + a t, t comes out to be 2.22s.

But here on out, I don't know what to do next, i know that vx is constant and acceleration is zero in the x-direction, but I'm unable to get anything more. Any help will be appreciated, thanks in advance!

lol I'm seeing a lot of projectile problems posted today.

You've done the major part of calculation. The y-direction of velocity occurs when the projectile lands, meaning at that particular point there is no x-direction of velocity. And initially, when the ball is thrown you only have x direction of velocity. Does this give you a clue of how to solve the last part? You only have to do one simple arithmetic.
 
OOPS OOPS, damn, forget my last response, that was misleading (Damn, I had too many beers last night). You DO have both x and y components of velocities when the ball lands. You've calculated the y-component of velocity and x-component of velocity stays the same, so your total velocity is

[tex]v = \sqrt{v^2_x + v^2_y}[/tex]

Then the problem says this is 4 times greater than the initial velocity, which only has x-component on it. Set the total velocity equal to [tex]\frac{v_x}{4}[/tex], solve for [tex]v_x[/tex]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Oh I see, I finally got the answer, thanks a lot!
 

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