Projectile motion of mini cannon ball

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the initial velocity of a mini-cannonball launched at a 60-degree angle, hitting a target 0.8 meters away. The initial approach involved assuming the maximum height occurs at half the distance, leading to a calculation of the vertical component of velocity. However, it was pointed out that the trajectory is parabolic, not linear, which invalidates the assumption used in the calculations. The correct method involves using projectile motion formulas to derive the initial velocity based on the given distance and angle. Overall, the calculations need to be adjusted to account for the parabolic nature of the projectile's path.
Thunderer
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I am not too sure whether I am doing this correctly.

The problem is basically a mini-cannon aimed at a 60 degree angle, hits a target on the ground 0.8m away. I am suppose to find the initial velocity.

This is what I did:
Cut the distance in half, assuming the mini cannon-ball will reach its maximum height at that point (and v = 0). Which is 0.4 m. I then use trig, and do the following: tan60 = y/0.4; y = 0.693m

vf^2 - vi^2 = 2a(xf-xi)
vf^2 - 0 = 2(-9.8m/sT=^2)(0.693m)
vf = 3.68 m/s from top of height to ground
so vi = 3.68 m/s
So this is the velocity of the y component?

Then:
tan 60 = (3.68 m/s) / x
xtan(60) = 3.68 m/s
x = 3.68/tan60 = 2.12 m/s
v(total)^2 = vy^2 + vx^2 = (3.68 m/s)^2 + (2.12 m/s)^2
v(total) = 4.25 m/s?

Is that correct? Did I do anything wrong?

[I also did this, but I don't think I need it.
vf = vi + at
0 = 3.68 m/s + (-9.8 m/s^2)(t)
t = 0.376 s ]
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The formula for the distance of a projectile with no air resistance is

s = v^2 * sin(2 * theta) /g so v = (s * g / sin(2 * theta)^1/2
s = (.8 * 9.8 / .867)^1/2 = 3 m/s

The time for the projectile to reach max height is v * sin(theta) /g
since vf = vi - gt and vf = 0 at the top of the trajectory
Multiply this by 2 to get total time of flight and t = 2 * v * sin(theta) / g
Also, the total distance traveled is s = v * cos(theta) * t
Substitute the value for t and s = v^2 * 2 * sin(theta) * cos(theta) /g
Since 2 * sin(theta) * cos(theta) = sin(2 * theta) you get the formula
for the distance s =v^2 * sin(theta) / g as stated above
 
Thunderer said:
This is what I did:
Cut the distance in half, assuming the mini cannon-ball will reach its maximum height at that point (and v = 0). Which is 0.4 m. I then use trig, and do the following: tan60 = y/0.4; y = 0.693m
It is certainly true that the cannonball will reach its maximum height at x = 0.4 m. But it is not true that tan60 = y/0.4. The initial angle of the cannonball's trajectory is 60 degrees, but it moves in a parabolic arc not in a straight line.
 
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