Projectile motion problem - velocity , angle, and vertical acceleration unknown

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves projectile motion on a foreign planet where the acceleration due to gravity is not equal to 9.8 m/s². The original poster provides specific measurements: a maximum horizontal distance of 40.2 m reached in 25 seconds, and a maximum vertical distance of 25 m reached in 12.5 seconds. The goal is to determine the initial velocity of the projectile, the angle of launch, and the vertical acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss relevant equations for projectile motion, including those for vertical and horizontal components. There is an exploration of how to relate the given distances and times to the unknowns of initial velocity, angle, and gravitational acceleration.

Discussion Status

Some participants have begun to derive equations based on the provided information and are attempting to express the relationships between the variables. There is an ongoing exploration of how to eliminate variables and solve for the unknowns, but no consensus has been reached on a specific approach or solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of mass in the problem and question the implications of the gravitational acceleration not being 9.8 m/s². The discussion includes the assumption that the projectile lands at the same vertical height from which it was launched.

EL ALEM
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This is all the given info:
On a foreign planet (g cannot equal 9.8m/s), a profectile is fired

Maximum horizontal distance= 40.2 m and it reaches this distance at 25s
Maximum vertical distance= 25 m and it reaches this distance at 12.5s

There is no horizontal acceleration, and there is no mass given (and I'm pretty sure its not needed to find the

solution)

What is the initial velocity of the projectile and angle at which it was fired and what is the acceleration due to

gravity

So basically I need to find vertical acceleration, intitial velocity, and angle theta.




I'm really stumped on this and all my attempts at a solution was just me listing out the givens.
 
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What equations do you have?
 
So let's see... If this thing lands at the same vertical height it was launched at then (Vsin theta)^2/(2*y_max)="g" and the horizontal distance is Vi^2*sin(2*theta)/"g" and V*cos(theta)=distance in x/time. 3 equations, 3 unknowns.

Anyone want to look at this problem?:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=357356
 
Let the initial speed be v, the angle [tex]\theta[/tex] and acceleration due to gravity a.

For the vertical rise, use [tex]x = (v\sin{\theta})t+\frac{1}{2}at^2[/tex], where [tex]v\sin{\theta}[/tex] is the vertical velocity.

[tex]25 = v\sin{\theta}(12.5)+\frac{1}{2}a(12.5)^2[/tex]

[tex]\Rightarrow 25 = 12.5 v\sin{\theta}+78.125a[/tex] --------(1)

Since the time it takes to fall back down is 25 seconds, we also have

[tex]0 = v\sin{\theta}(25)+\frac{1}{2}a(25)^2[/tex]

[tex]\Rightarrow 0 = 25v\sin{\theta}+312.5a[/tex] --------(2)

For the horizontal distance, use [tex]x = (v\cos{\theta})t[/tex] (a = 0 in the horizontal component)

[tex]40.2 = v\cos{\theta}(25)[/tex] --------(3)


From equations (1) and (2), we can eliminate [tex]a[/tex] and [tex]v\sin{\theta}[/tex] (or just solve for a)

[tex]v\sin{\theta} = 4[/tex] --------------(4)

From equation (3),

[tex]v\cos{\theta} = 1.608[/tex] ----------(3')

To find [tex]\theta[/tex], divide (4) by (3')

To find [tex]v[/tex], square (4) and (3'), add them together, and use a trigonometric identity to simplify
 

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