Projectile Motion at an Angle: Solving for Time, Distance, and Final Velocity

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a projectile motion problem involving a projectile launched from a cliff. The original poster presents a scenario where a projectile is shot at an angle from a height of 125 m, with an initial velocity of 50.0 m/s at 37.0° above the horizontal. The questions posed include determining the time to reach the ground, the horizontal distance from the base of the cliff, and the final velocity just before impact.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of kinematic equations to find the time of flight and horizontal distance. The original poster attempts to apply vertical motion equations but expresses uncertainty about the calculations and the correct use of the vertical distance. Some participants question the assumption that the vertical component of velocity is zero at impact.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different approaches to solve for time and distance. There is recognition of the need to incorporate the height of the cliff into the calculations, and one participant has identified a mistake related to the sign of the displacement in the quadratic formula. No consensus has been reached yet, but there is a productive exchange of ideas and corrections.

Contextual Notes

The original poster notes that the problem does not specify the value of gravity, leading to some assumptions about its value. There is also mention of potential errors in the calculations due to the messy notes taken during the problem-solving process.

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Hi, I need someone to check if I did this right. As I got the q's off a PDF with no answers.

Homework Statement



A projectile is shot from the edge of a cliff 125 m above the ground. It has an initial velocity 50.0 m/s 37.0° above the horizontal at the launch point. a) Determine the time taken to reach the ground. b) How far is this point from the base of the cliff? c) What is the magnitude and direction of the final velocity just before the point of impact?

It doesn't specify what value to use for gravity, I assumed g, or a, is = -9.8m/s^2
(Doesn't matter since there's no answers anyway)

Homework Equations



v = u + at
s = ut (horizontal sense)

The Attempt at a Solution

I used this to find the time for a)

Vv = Uv + Avt
0 = 50 * sin37 - 9.8t
9.8t = 50 * sin37
t = 3.1s

b) Sh = Uh * t
= 50 * cos37 * 3.1
Sh = 123.79m

c) Vertical component before impact:

Vv = Uv + Avt
= 60.47m/s

I then used Pythagoras' to find v = 72.47m/s
and theta = 56'33'' above the horizontal. I feel that I went wrong somewhere, can someone check if these are right/close. Not sure If I copied everything down correctly either, my page is a bit of a mess.edit - I just noticed I didn't once use the vertical distance, I think I'll have another look at it.

edit 2 - Sv = Uvt + 1/2At^2
125 = 50 sin 37t -4.9t^2
= 30.1t - 4.9t^2

-4.9t^2 + 30.1t - 125 = 0
4.9t^2 - 30.1t +125 = 0

And... I'm getting math error when using quadratic formula. Not quite sure where to go from here...I realize now that the value for t that I had would only reach to the same height on the other side of the parabola... I'll have a look at this question again later.
 
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a)Vv = Uv + Avt
0 = 50 * sin37 - 9.8t
9.8t = 50 * sin37
t = 3.1s

The vertical component of the speed is not 0 when it hits the ground!
 
Basic_Physics said:
a)Vv = Uv + Avt
0 = 50 * sin37 - 9.8t
9.8t = 50 * sin37
t = 3.1s

The vertical component of the speed is not 0 when it hits the ground!


Right, lol.

Can you find t? I tried to incorporate the height and use the quadratic formula, but it wouldn't solve. Kind of stuck here.
 
Found it. I had to use a negative displacement for the height... I was getting a negative square root prior. Wow...
 

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