Projectile motion of a snowmobile

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
3 replies · 6K views
getty102
Messages
38
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement




The snowmobile is traveling at 10m/s when it leaves the embankment at A. The angle that the snowmobile leaves its elevated jump is 40 degrees. Determine the time and flight from A to B and the range R of the trajectory.
The slope of the mountain is a 3-4-5 triangle.

Homework Equations


y=y_0+10sin40(t)-.5(9.81)t^2
R=10cos40(t)


The Attempt at a Solution


I wasn't sure how to get the height, range, and time(in the air) using only the equations of projectile motion.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I am guessing from what I read that B is either up a mountain from A or down a mountain, and the slope of the mountain is in the form of a 3:4:5 right angled triangle.

Is B higher than A, or lower than A?

Is y/R equal to 3/4, or is it equal to 4/3 ?

Without knowing these the question can't be answered. Is there a diagram that comes with this problem?
 
Last edited:
You are correct, the point A starts at an elevated position while point B is at a lower position. The 3-4-5 triangle has its 3 side underneath point A and the 4 side would be considered the Range.
 
OK, then if you consider the motion upwards to be positive, since the vertical position of the projectile ends up lower than it's starting vertical position (i.e. since it falls), your first equation should change to this.

-y=y_0+10sin40(t)-.5(9.81)t^2

Your second equation is correct for the range,

R=10cos40(t)

Also,

y_0 = 0

From the sides of the 3:4:5 triangle we can get the following relation,

y/R = 3/4

These four equations are all you need to find y, R and t.