Projectile motion: determine launch angle

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on determining the launch angle and other parameters for a projectile fired from a cannon positioned above a slope. Key questions include calculating the angle required for the projectile to hit the bottom of the hill, the time it takes to reach the bottom, and the delay needed to hit a moving target. Participants express difficulty in solving for the unknown angle, \Theta, and suggest using optimization approaches to find the range in terms of this angle. There is mention of inconsistencies in the problem statement and diagram, which complicates the solution process. The conversation emphasizes the need for clarity in problem formulation to facilitate solving the equations involved.
justsway17
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Homework Statement



A cannon is supported one meter above the top of a 20 degree declining slope of length 200m. The cannon has a launch velocity of 55m/s. There is a ball halfway down this slope moving at a constant velocity of 20m/s.

-Determine the angle \Theta required for the projectile to hit the bottom of the hill within one degree.
-How long does the projectile take to hit the bottom of the hill?
-There is a target moving at a constant velocity of 20m/s down the hill. How long should you delay firing to hit the target as it reaches the bottom of the hill?
-Find the maximum distance this projectile can travel as measured from the bottom of the hill.

Homework Equations



x=x_{0}+v_{0x}t
v_{y}=v_{0y}t-gt^{2}
y=y_{0}+v_{0y}t-0.5gt^{2}
v^{2}_{y}=v^{2}_{0y}-2g(y-y_{0})

The Attempt at a Solution



I have tried using all of the two-dimensional kinematics equations with some success but the problem is that \Theta is unknown so I can't find t or v_{fy}.

My best attempts are as so:
v_{yf}=55sin\Theta-9.81t
188=55cos(\Theta)t
188=0+55cos(\Theta)t-4.9t^{2}

The diagram for the problem is attached.
Either it is algebra more complicated than I am used to or I am missing something very simple. I am confident that if I could solve for \Theta OR t I could finish the problem easily. I can't seem to get a solveable equation. Thank you for your help and I apologize if there are syntax errors as I am a first time user.
 

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There is inconsistency , the questions on the attachment and the problem statement you provided . I would like to help you but there are some ambiguity .
 
I apologize for that. I just updated the post to match the wording of the diagram exactly. I have continued to work on this problem and used a few pages of paper, but still have not been able to find a way to solve for theta.
 
You have to find the range in terms of the initial angle then try to optimize it . That is how I solved it . You have to think why one needs an optimization approach to solve this problem.
 
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
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