Project Tile Motion

1. Sep 17, 2008

shwanky

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Standing on the ground 3.0m from the wall of a building you want to throw a package from your 1.5m shoulder level to someone in a second-floor window 4.2m above the ground. At what speed and angle should you throw the package so it just barely reaches the window?

2. Relevant equations
$$y=tan\vartheta-\frac{g}{2v^{2}cos(\vartheta)^{2}}x^{2}$$

3. The attempt at a solution
I'm not exactly sure where to begin with this problem. I tried drawing a picture of the problem but i'm still stuck. The only thing I know is that since the package just reaches the 2nd story window, the velocity Vy0=0 at some time t>0.

2. Sep 18, 2008

H_man

Correct the vertical velocity will be zero at some time after t>0. If it just goes through the window this will be its maximum height.

Start by thinking about.

{1} what is the change height the ball travels through to get to the window?

{2} How far does the ball move horizontally?

Knowing the height the ball moves to before stopping allows you to calculate the initial vertical velocity, which then will allow you to work out the time.