Projectile Motion(Fun. Fun) where object is thrown from ground level

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a projectile motion problem where a ball is thrown from ground level with an initial velocity of 15 m/s at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal. Participants are exploring the calculations for time of flight, range, and maximum height, while expressing uncertainty about their methods and results.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss decomposing the initial velocity into horizontal and vertical components and applying kinematic equations. There are attempts to calculate time of flight using different methods, with some questioning the definitions and roles of variables like initial velocity (u).

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on using kinematic equations and decomposing velocity, while others are seeking clarification on their calculations and the meanings of variables. There is an ongoing exploration of different approaches to the problem, but no consensus has been reached on specific answers yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the assumption that the ground is level and are discussing the effects of gravity on the projectile's motion. There is mention of confusion regarding the application of trigonometric functions to find velocity components.

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Ok basically I've tried loads of methods of working it out and I'd just like to see how someone else would do it because all the answers I get don't seem right and I am not confident about them. A bit of explaining of why things that may seem odd are wouldn't be minded elther.
I've tried working out the speeds on both planes using 15Sin(30 and 15cos(30 but when I try and apply the answer to my motion equations S = ut + (0.5)(A)(t squared) and V(Squared) = U(Squared) + 2as, It doesn't seem to work out elther way. The way I did it in the end was using V = u + at working out U with sin and assuming a = -9.81 and V = 0.

Here's the question:
A ball is thrown from the ground with a velocity of 15ms at an angle of 30 to the horiziontal.
Calculate
A . It's time of flight(The time between the point at which it leaves the thrower's hand when it hits the ground) assuming that the ground is level.
B. It's range.
C. It's maximum height.

-Shoot.
 
Last edited:
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You need to decompose the initial velocity vector into its horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal component has a magnitude of 15cos(30deg.) = 15(sqrt(3)/2) m/sec. The vertical component's magnitude is 15/2 m/sec.

Look at the kinematic equations for the motion vertically and for its motion horizontally. If the ball were thrown upward at a speed of 15/2 = 7.5 m/sec, the only force acting on it is the force of gravity, so you should be able to figure out when (the value of t) the ball comes back to the ground. That will be the answer to A. You can then substitute this value of t in your equation for horizontal position, and that will give you the answer to B. For C, the maximum height occurs midway through the ball's flight.
 
Ok so if I try 15Sin(30 and work out u is 7.5 m/s and then put this into V = u + at where V = 0, And work out T that way as the ball's time is how to be effected how high it goes and then falls. I get 0.765(Sec) with this - Is this correct?

Oh and my working out is that acceleration is minus as the ball is being thrown upwards so A = G = - 9.81 because an object being thrown up should deacclerate.

So input that into V = u + at gives me 0 = 7.5 + (-9.81)(t) and then changing the subject so -9.81t is on the otherside and so turned into a plus, And then diviiding 7.5 by 9.81.

- That's my answer to A so far, I want to check that is correct before I move on.
 
It would help if you would tell us what "u" means! Is it the x or y component of velocity? And why are you "trying" 15 cos(30) and 15 sin(30)? What are you trying to use them for?
 
HallsofIvy said:
It would help if you would tell us what "u" means! Is it the x or y component of velocity? And why are you "trying" 15 cos(30) and 15 sin(30)? What are you trying to use them for?

Oh of course sorry - I'm too used to just doing this in my exercise book as notes.
U is initial velocity of the traveling object and I am working it out in the Y axis.
I'm using 15Sin(30 because I need to use that to work out the time, The time is going to be the time it traveled in the parabola instead of the straight line you'd get on the X axis.
 

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