Physics Problem - Projectile Motion?

  • #1
Sterwin411
1
0

Homework Statement



For a science fair competition, a group of high school students build a kicker-machine that can launch a golf ball from the origin with a velocity of 16.5 m/s and initial angle of 38.4° with respect to the horizontal.
(a) Where will the golf ball fall back to the ground?


(b) How high will it be at the highest point of its trajectory?


(c) What is the ball's velocity vector (in Cartesian components) at the highest point of its trajectory?
v = ? m/s

(d) What is the ball's acceleration vector (in Cartesian components) at the highest point of its trajectory?
a = ? m/s2

Homework Equations



I believe projectile motion formula can be used here but I am not entirely sure...

y= 1/2a(t^2) + Vot +Yo

Yo= Initial height
Vo= Initial Velocity

The Attempt at a Solution



Mostly chicken scratch that leads to nowhere :(
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF!
For all projectile motion problems, make two headings for "horizontal" and "vertical". In the horizontal direction there is no force or acceleration, so the motion is constant speed: write the formula x = Vx*t.
In the vertical direction, we have acceleration at -g, so write
Vy = Viy + at AND y = Viy*t + .5*a*t²

Sketch your 16.5 m/s at 38.4° and find the horizontal (Vx) and vertical (Viy) components by means of trigonometry. Plug these numbers into all three formulas and see if you can solve anyone of them for something useful like the time of flight (where y = 0 or Vy = -Viy) or the time to maximum height (where Vy = 0).
 

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