Need help with Vertical Velocity I have an exam tomorrow >.<

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving vertical velocity, specifically related to a diver jumping off a diving board. The scenario includes calculations for time in the air, horizontal distance traveled, and vertical velocity upon hitting the water, with a focus on understanding the underlying principles of motion and energy conservation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore various methods to calculate vertical velocity, including energy conservation principles (potential energy and kinetic energy) and kinematic equations. There is confusion regarding the definitions of variables and the application of different equations.

Discussion Status

Several participants have offered different approaches to the problem, with some suggesting the use of energy conservation while others focus on kinematic equations. There is ongoing clarification about the meaning of variables and the separation of horizontal and vertical components of motion. No explicit consensus has been reached, but productive dialogue is occurring.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that this is a physics non-majors course, which may influence their familiarity with concepts like potential energy and kinetic energy. There is also mention of imposed homework rules and the need to understand the problem without relying on complete solutions.

newgirl
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Need help with Vertical Velocity! I have an exam tomorrow >.<

I went to a tutor yesterday to get it all worked out, but I forgot to write down D in my notes! How do I solve for D? I have the answer, but no equation to work it.

You jump horizontally with a speed of 2.7 m/s off a diving board that is 2.6 meters above the water. (Neglect air resistance and use g = 9.8 m/s2)

(a) How long are you in the air?
0.73 s

(b) How far away from the diving board (horizontally) do you hit the water?
1.971 m

(c) What is your horizontal speed when you hit the water?
2.7 m/s

(d) What is your vertical velocity when you hit the water? (Define up as the positive vertical direction).
-7.252 m/s

I am thinking D is solved with Dy=Voy T + (1/2)Ay T^2=Voy T- (1/2)gt^2. I just figured out that the y's and the x's are referring to vertical and horizontal, but I am slightly confused on the process.
 
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I think you just consider that you're falling from h=2.6m so use PE = KE so that the PE=mgh
and the KE=1/2 m v^2 where v is the vertical velocity.
 


jedishrfu said:
I think you just consider that you're falling from h=2.6m so use PE = KE so that the PE=mgh
and the KE=1/2 m v^2 where v is the vertical velocity.

This is a physics non majors course, and I haven't seen PE=KE yet. Initial=final? From what I googled PE=KE is energy related. The equations he gave us to work with was the previous one and Vy=Voy + AyT=Voy-gt

http://www.tjhsst.edu/~jleaf/tec/html/10/potent.htm that kinda seemed to explain what you said.
 
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simply use v^2=u^2+2xaccelerationxheight/distance and solve for v which should get 7.14 m/s
 


only use vertical velocity components negelct horizontal velocity
 


Bostonpancake0 said:
simply use v^2=u^2+2xaccelerationxheight/distance and solve for v which should get 7.14 m/s

What does the U stand for? Sorry if I sound really lame, but I really know nothing about physics other than what the teacher lectures or what it says in the book.
 


It's not too unusual that you meet ballistics before you really get into conservation of energy. What you do is separate the velocity into components and apply the kinematic equations to each component separately. It is common to make the x-axis horizontal and the y-axis vertical.

If ##\theta## is the angle the velocity makes to the horizontal, then ##v_x=v\cos\theta## and ##v_y=v\sin\theta## and ##\vec{v}=v_x\hat{\imath}+v_y\hat{\jmath}##

Horizontally there is no force, so you just keep going. ##x=v_xt##
Vertically there is a force (gravity) so you need the kinematic equations - (the suvat equations) or you can sketch a v-t graph (this one's easy) and do some geometry (slope of a line and area of a triangle).

What does the U stand for?
google for "SUVAT equations"... it is a common way to write "initial velocity" in the kinematic equations.
 


u stands for intial velocity, so in terms of your vertical velocity the diver starts of at a intial vertical velocity of 0m/s. but for the initial horizontal velocity 2.7 m/s (also marked u) is the same as the horizontal final velocity which is also 2.7m/s as you have stated in your answer.
 


newgirl said:
This is a physics non majors course, and I haven't seen PE=KE yet. Initial=final? From what I googled PE=KE is energy related. The equations he gave us to work with was the previous one and Vy=Voy + AyT=Voy-gt

http://www.tjhsst.edu/~jleaf/tec/html/10/potent.htm that kinda seemed to explain what you said.

The PE stands for potential energy so an object at h=2.6m has potential energy = m g h

as it falls it converts the PE to kinetic energy so that at h=0 ground level PE=0 and KE=(PE initially) and since KE=1/2m v^2 then you can solve for v.

The other way to solve it is to ignore the horizontal velocity for the moment and think okay I start with 0m/s falling and after falling 2.6 my vertical velocity would be vfinal = g t but I don't know what t is but I remember that distance fallen is 1/2 g t^2 ie 2.6=1/2 g t^2 and solve for t. having t I go back to vfinal = gt and use t to find vfinal.
 
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  • #10


Thank you so much everyone! I think I got it now. I'll bookmark all the helpful links!
 

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