Projectile Motion (No initial velocity)

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the minimum initial speed required for a salmon to reach a waterfall 0.55 m high from a distance of 2.00 m, with a jump angle of 32.0 degrees. The relevant equation for vertical displacement is given as Δy = vi sin(Θ) Δt + 1/2 g Δt². Participants emphasize the need to express both vertical and horizontal displacements in terms of the unknown initial speed, leading to a system of equations that can be solved for the initial velocity.

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  • Knowledge of trigonometric functions
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Homework Statement


A salmon starts 2.00 m from a waterfall that is 0.55 m tall and jumps at an angle of 32.0. What must be the salmon's minimum initial speed to reach the waterfall.


Homework Equations


\Deltay=visin\Theta\Deltat+1/2g\Deltat2

The Attempt at a Solution


I have tried all the related formulas for projectile motion, and I felt like I got somewhere a few times. But the results aren't really checking with a graphing calculator.
 
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Try to write expressions for the vertical and horizontal displacement at any given time (in terms of the unknown initial speed, ofcourse).

For some particular value of time, the vertical displacement will be 0.55m, and at the same time, the horizontal displacement will be 2m. You can use this information to find v.
 

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