Projectile motion on an incline

In summary, The conversation discusses a problem involving a projectile being launched at an angle over an inclined plane. The questions asked are how far the projectile will fly along the incline and what angle will give the longest distance. The person suggests setting up coordinates and writing out equations of motion to solve the problem, mentioning a possible trick with scaling and variable choices.
  • #1
sigma
24
0
Hi. Got this quite interesting problem:
A projectile is launched at some velocity at an angle a over a plane inclined at an angle b.

1. How far, measured along the incline, will the projectile fly?
2. What angle a will give the longest distance?

Any suggestions/hints on possible solutions?

/J.
 
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  • #2
Set up coordinates in the plane of the incline and write out the equations of motion. You should be able to solve them with little difficulty and arrive at the desired answer.
 
  • #3
There is a trick with scaling and your choice of variables, but I can't remember it, if you look at the flat example the choice of variables might be obvious
 

1. What is projectile motion on an incline?

Projectile motion on an incline refers to the movement of an object that is launched at an angle on a surface that is not horizontal. This type of motion is a combination of horizontal and vertical motion due to the influence of gravity.

2. How is projectile motion on an incline different from projectile motion on a flat surface?

Projectile motion on an incline differs from projectile motion on a flat surface because the incline introduces an additional force component to the motion. On a flat surface, the only force acting on the object is gravity, while on an incline, the force of the object's weight is split into two components: one parallel to the incline and one perpendicular to the incline.

3. What factors affect projectile motion on an incline?

The factors that affect projectile motion on an incline are the initial velocity of the object, the angle at which it is launched, the mass of the object, and the angle of the incline. The incline's coefficient of friction can also affect the motion by adding resistance to the object's movement.

4. How is the trajectory of a projectile on an incline determined?

The trajectory of a projectile on an incline can be determined using the equations of motion and the principles of vector addition. By breaking the initial velocity vector into its horizontal and vertical components and considering the forces acting on the object, the trajectory can be calculated using formulas such as the range equation and the maximum height equation.

5. What real-life applications use projectile motion on an incline?

Projectile motion on an incline has several real-life applications, such as throwing a ball on a sloped field, launching a rocket on a non-flat surface, and ski jumping. It is also relevant in sports like skateboarding and snowboarding, where the angle of the incline affects the motion of the athlete and their equipment.

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