Projectile Motion Help: Launch Velocity and Distance Calculation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aldy
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Projectile
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the launch velocity and distance of a ball launched from a spring-loaded pipe. The ball lands after 4.7 seconds, and the initial calculations suggest a launch velocity of 23 m/s. To find the distance when launched at a 45-degree angle, the correct approach involves decomposing the initial velocity into x and y components using trigonometric functions. The kinematic equations for both directions are then applied to determine the total displacement. Understanding that velocity is a vector and treating the x and y motions independently is crucial for accurate calculations.
Aldy
Gold Member
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


a ball is launched vertically from a spring loaded pipe at ground level, and it lands in 4.7 seconds. We need to figure out the launch velocity and how far the ball will land if fired at 45 deg angle.

Homework Equations


I am using the following formulas, not sure if they are the correct ones to use.
V= -1/2gt
dy= Voyt + 1/2ayt (squared)
dx = Voxt + 1/2axt(squared)


The Attempt at a Solution


I calculated the launch velocity to be 23m/s
however I am having trouble calculating how far the ball lands if launched at 45deg angle.
The answer should be between 50-60 meters but I get an answer of 155.

Could someone please help me figure this out, please show work so I can understand. Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Erasing this for confusing language and a mistake:redface:, sorry
 
Last edited:
Erasing due to incorrect info
 
Last edited:
How about this, I think I need to proofread my posts a little better, I actually might have made a mistake in that one :redface:

Do you agree that, for a projectile launched at an angle theta, you can decompose an initial velocity as such:
v_{0x}=v_0cos(\theta)
v_{0y}=v_0sin(\theta)

Well, then, from the equation to follow we can calculate the initial y velocity (because initial y location is known, it is 0, y acceleration is known, it is g, and t is known, it is 4.7s, and its final location is known, which is when y is equal to 0 again, you should graph this function, it is a parabola)
y=y_0+v_{0y}t+\frac{1}{2}a_yt^2
Then, with that figured out, we can get the total velocity using and then the x velocity in a few steps using those first two equations I gave you.

After solving for the initial x direction velocity, you can use the equation
x=x_0+v_{0x}t+\frac{1}{2}a_xt^2
to find the total x displacement. We also know the initial x location, 0, and the x acceleration, 0 (because we have no air resistance), and now we know the initial x velocity from the work before.

Does that help?

It is important to realize that velocity is a vector, it has magnitude and direction. In a kinematics problem we can treat the x and y directions as independent and decompose a velocity vector into its constituent x and y components with the first two equations I gave you, and then use them in independent kinematic equations.
 
Last edited:
Thank you, that is very helfpul.:smile:
 
Please delete that quote so we don't confuse anyone who might end up here
 
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanged mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top