Projectile motion(?) solving for Vo

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the initial velocity of a projectile when given the time of flight and the launch angle, with the condition that the projectile lands at the same vertical level from which it was launched.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between time, angle, and initial velocity, questioning how to manipulate equations when certain variables are unknown. There is discussion about using the vertical displacement equation and the implications of the projectile returning to the same height.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some suggesting potential equations to use while others express confusion about rearranging them. There is a mix of attempts to clarify the mathematical relationships involved, but no consensus has been reached on a specific method.

Contextual Notes

Some participants indicate a lack of familiarity with rearranging equations, which may affect their ability to progress in solving the problem. The discussion also highlights the challenge of working with unknown variables in the context of projectile motion.

Pencil
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How do I find initial velocity if I'm only given time and the angle above the horizontal?
The only other info given is that the object is caught at the same level it is kicked.
 
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What time are you given? The time 'caught as the same level it was kicked'? You mean, the same vertical position?
 
I think so. >.< My book gives me equations but they all ask for V sub y and Vo but I don't have either...
 
Pencil said:
I think so. >.< My book gives me equations but they all ask for V sub y and Vo but I don't have either...

You have to use the equation for the displacement of the object in the y-direction, y(t0) = v0*sinA*t0-1/2*g*t0^2. Now, think about what y(t0) has to equal at the time t0, at which it has reached the point with the same y-coordinate as the one from which it was thrown. Then you can directly get the initial velocity v0 from the equation above, with a given angle A and time t0.
 
I don't understand. I don't know v0 so how do I solve the equation?
 
Pencil said:
I don't understand. I don't know v0 so how do I solve the equation?

Of course you can solve the equation and get v0 by setting v0*sinA*t0-1/2*g*t0^2 = 0.
 
I don't really know how to rearrange equations, but would this be right? thanks
Vo =t0-1/2*g*t0^2/sinA
 
Pencil said:
I don't really know how to rearrange equations, but would this be right? thanks
Vo =t0-1/2*g*t0^2/sinA

[tex]v_{0}=\frac{\frac{1}{2}gt_{0}^2}{sin \alpha \cdot t_{0}}[/tex]. Was this so hard? :smile:
 
:D Got it! Thanks for the help I really appreciate it. I'm a really slow learner lol. How did t0 end up at the bottom?
 
  • #10
Pencil said:
:D Got it! Thanks for the help I really appreciate it. I'm a really slow learner lol. How did t0 end up at the bottom?

We divided by it. :smile:
 

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