Projectile motion basketball question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a projectile motion problem involving a basketball shot. The scenario includes a player of height 2.291m shooting a ball at an initial speed of 19m/s at an angle of 74 degrees, aiming for a hoop that is 3.048m high. Participants are exploring how to calculate the time to reach maximum height, the time to reach the hoop, and the horizontal distance traveled by the ball.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of kinematic equations to find the time to maximum height and the horizontal distance. There is uncertainty about how to handle different initial and final heights. Some participants question the correctness of their calculations and the equations used.

Discussion Status

Multiple approaches are being explored, with participants sharing their calculations and questioning their methods. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of specific equations, but there is no explicit consensus on the final outcomes or methods.

Contextual Notes

Participants express confusion regarding the differing heights of the player and the hoop, and there is mention of needing to use the quadratic equation to solve for horizontal distance. The discussion reflects a collaborative effort to clarify concepts and calculations without providing definitive solutions.

jj8890
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[SOLVED] Projectile motion question

Homework Statement



A 2.291m tall man shoots a ball at 19m/s at an angle of 74 degrees above the horizontal into a hoop that is 3.048m tall, how long does it take the ball to reach its max height? To reach the hoop? What is the horizontal length of the shot?


Homework Equations


I used Y=Voy-.5gt^2 to find the max height but not sure if this is the rights equation


The Attempt at a Solution



I used Y=19t -.5(9.81)t^2 to get t~1.937 s

I am confused because the start and end heights are different (the man is 2.291, tall and the hoops is 3.048m). I'm not sure how to deal with this.
 
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Take y initial to be the man's height and the hoop to be y final. (if I'm not mistaken)

Also, what is the velocity at max height?

You'll need these 5 equations (one which is already simplified, plugged in the 1st into the 2nd eliminating time)...

x=(v_0\cos\theta)t

\Delta y=(v_0\sin\theta)t-\frac 1 2 gt^2

\Delta y = x\tan\theta - \frac {gx^2}{2(v_0\cos\theta)^2}

v_x=v_0\cos\theta

v_y=v_0\sin\theta-gt
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the help though I greatly appreciate it. The velocity at the max height would be zero right? I used the first equation and got ~1.89s so this would be the time for the max height? Would I just double that to get the time when it goes through the hoop? I am still unsure where to use the other two equations.
 
Well, since we don't have the time it takes for the ball to reach the hoop. We need to find the horizontal distance that it travels.

Use the 3rd equation that I provided and solve for x. Use the quadratic equation. Then plug that x back into the 1st equation to solve for t.

Also, do you have the answer to this question? I don't really like physics very much, but I'll try my best to help.
 
Ok...I used the 3rd equation and solve for x and got x~15.95m. This is the horizontal distance? I then plugged that x back into the 1st equation and got t~3.045s. Which would be the time that it took to go the distance? I'm just trying to make sure I'm doing this right. No, I do not have the answer...Thanks for your help again.
 
My equation reduces to ...

.1788362932x^2-3.487414444x+.757=0

x = 19.44617835 m

t = 3.713150811 s
 
Last edited:
Ok...I see what i did wrong...must be getting tired...thanks..so the 20.53 is the distance and I got ~3.92s fo the time. This would be the time for the whole trip right? About the max height, what equation would I use for that or was it correct to begin with?
 
jj8890 said:
Ok...I see what i did wrong...must be getting tired...thanks..so the 20.53 is the distance and I got ~3.92s fo the time. This would be the time for the whole trip right? About the max height, what equation would I use for that or was it correct to begin with?
Check my equation again on Post #6, I updated it b/c I kept calculating initial velocity as 19.6m/s, hehe I'm tired too sorry.

And to find the max height, velocity would be 0 as you stated. So use the 5th equation to find the time.

t = 1.861770869 s
 
Thank you so much. You were a great help.
 
  • #10
jj8890 said:
Thank you so much. You were a great help.
Make sure to check this later. If I was wrong on my approach, someone will definitely have yelled and corrected me :-]
 

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