Projectile Motion: Calculations for a successful basketball shot

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around projectile motion in the context of calculating the trajectory of a basketball shot. Participants are examining assumptions related to the ball's maximum height and its horizontal and vertical displacements as it approaches the hoop.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants question the assumption that the ball reaches its maximum height at the midpoint of the trajectory, seeking justification for this claim. There are suggestions to consider alternative trajectories and the impact of clearer diagrams on understanding the problem.

Discussion Status

The conversation is active, with participants engaging in questioning assumptions and exploring different interpretations of the projectile motion involved. Some guidance has been offered regarding the clarity of diagrams, which seems to aid understanding, but no consensus has been reached on the assumptions being discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants are encouraged to avoid unsubstantiated assumptions and are prompted to provide arguments for their reasoning. There is a focus on the specific displacements involved in the shot, with numerical values mentioned but not fully explored in terms of calculations.

ayderay
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Homework Statement
A basketball player shoots successfully at goal from a horizontal distance of 5.3m to the centre of the goal ring. She releases the ball at an angle of 48 to the horizontal and 1.2m below the height of the ring. What was the ball’s speed as it left her hand? The answer is 8.1m/s
Relevant Equations
Motion equations
4A14584B-3E5E-44EE-BA13-CE48F2DF1EC9.png
 
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Why have you assumed that the ball reaches the maximal height at the midpoint of the trajectory? Can you make an argument for this?
 
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Orodruin said:
Why have you assumed that the ball reaches the maximal height at the midpoint of the trajectory? Can you make an argument for this?
I assumed it..
 
Perhaps a clearer diagram might help. We can ignore the practicalities of the hoop, and just consider the target as a point in space that we want to reach, at the top of the pole:

1587288195354.png


There is another trajectory you could have, I'll let you think of what that might be! It won't affect your calculations.
 
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ayderay said:
I assumed it..
It is not a healthy habit to assume things that you cannot give an argument for. Can you show whether it is the case or not?
 
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As the ball reaches the ring, how much is its horizontal displacement? How much is its vertical displacement?
 
etotheipi said:
Perhaps a clearer diagram might help. We can ignore the practicalities of the hoop, and just consider the target as a point in space that we want to reach, at the top of the pole:

View attachment 260947

There is another trajectory you could have, I'll let you think of what that might be! It won't affect your calculations.
Ohh, thank u for this, it’s much more understandable. I’ll try the question out again
 
ayderay said:
Ohh, thank u for this, it’s much more understandable. I’ll try the question out again
You treat 1.2m as displacement along vertical.
5.3 m as displacement along horizontal.
And proceed. You will get
 

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