Projectile Motion rock throw Help

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the velocity of a rock thrown horizontally from a cliff at 25 m/s after 3.0 seconds. The correct final velocity is 38.6 m/s at an angle of 49.6 degrees downward. Participants clarify that the total velocity is determined by vector addition of the horizontal and vertical components, rather than averaging them. The vertical component is calculated using the gravitational constant of 9.8 m/s², resulting in a vertical velocity of 29.4 m/s after 3 seconds.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of projectile motion principles
  • Familiarity with vector addition
  • Knowledge of basic trigonometry
  • Grasp of gravitational acceleration (9.8 m/s²)
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the equations of motion for projectile motion
  • Learn about vector decomposition and addition
  • Explore trigonometric functions for angle calculations
  • Practice problems involving horizontal projectile motion
USEFUL FOR

Students learning physics, educators teaching projectile motion concepts, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of objects in motion.

evan1997ere
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
If a rock is thrown horizontally from a cliff at 25 m/s, what will its velocity be (magnitude and direction) after 3.0 seconds. The answer is 38.6 m/s, and 49.6 degrees down, but I cannot figure out how to get to it.



Not sure which equations to use, I just started and I am learning on my own.



I assumed that to find the velocity, you should average the horizontal and vertical velocities together. So since it has been 3 seconds, the vertical would be 29.4 m/s, because the gravitational constant is 9.8 m/s/s, and the horizontal would remain 25 m/s. Averaged, it would be 27.2 m/s. Obviously that was incorrect. As far as direction goes, I have no idea.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The horizontal and vertical velocities are the components of the total velocity. You must add them like vectors, not average them. A bit of trig will allow you to find to the magnitude and direction of that vector.
 
Oh okay, I'll look that up and see if I can get it. Thanks
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
40
Views
3K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K