Homework Help: Projectile motion at an angle

1. Jan 17, 2010

science_rules

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A bullet leaves a gun at an angle of 40 degrees to the horizontal. It reaches maximum height in 1.3 seconds. Determine the speed (velocity) with which the bullet left the gun (aka initial velocity of bullet).

2. Relevant equations

1. t = (Vfy - Voy) / -9.8 m/s/s

2. Vosin40

3. The attempt at a solution
First, i found the component for initial vertical velocity by solving for Voy:
(knowing that vertical velocity at max height is zero, 0 - Voy = -Voy)
t = -Voy / -9.8 m/s/s = 1.3 sec., -9.8m/s/s times 1.3 sec. = -12.74 m/s component for initial vertical veloc. (Voy)
i understand that this is the time equation, but to solve for the initial vertical veloc component and hence use that to find Vo, i had to work backwards, solving for the unknowns with what equations i can use. i hope my reasoning was accurate.

Next, I used the equation(vertical veloc. component equation): Vosin40 = -12.74 m/s, then solved for Vo: (12.74 / sin40) = 19.81 m/s Initial Velocity when bullet leaves gun. This will be the same for both equations: Vocos40, Vosin40.
That is, 19.81 m/s = Vo in the equations Vocos40 and Vosin40
19.81cos40 (horizontal veloc. component) = 15.16 and
19.81sin40 (vert. veloc component) = 12.74
Vocos40 is not needed for this problem, but i just included to show that i understand what Vo means(initial velocity) as compared to say, Vox, Voy, etc.

Is this the correct way of finding the initial velocity? It seems to make sense to me but I'd like to make sure.

Last edited: Jan 17, 2010
2. Jan 17, 2010

ideasrule

Yes, that's right.

3. Jan 18, 2010

science_rules

One small question--should the negative number be carried through (from -12.74) but then that would make the initial velocity (19.81 m/s) negative, which doesn't seem right.

4. Jan 18, 2010

science_rules

oops, i think i may have just remembered that it's the magnitude of -12.74 that's divided by sin40, so that would make it positive. nevermind. since magnitude of -12.74 = 12.74. then that does make the initial velocity positive.