Projectile motion where yi doesn't equal yf

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the time a hammer is in the air when thrown from a height of 8.5 m at an angle of 51 degrees downward with an initial velocity of 1.7 m/s. The key equations used are vfy^2 = viy^2 + 2g⋅Δy and vfy = gt + viy. A major point of confusion arises from the signs used for gravitational acceleration and displacement; both should be negative since they are directed downward. The error in the calculations stems from not consistently applying these negative signs, particularly for final velocity and displacement. Correctly addressing these sign conventions is essential for arriving at the correct time of flight.
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Homework Statement


A hammer bro is throwing hammers with a velocity of 1.7 E 1 m/s at 51 degrees down at Mario from a ledge that is 8.5 m tall. Assume that gravitational acceleration in the Mushroom Kingdom is the same as on Earth.
Determine how long each hammer in in the air.

Homework Equations


vfy^2=viy^2+2g ⋅Δ(y)
vfy=gt+viy

The Attempt at a Solution


I tried the method of using the equation: vfy^2=viy^2+2g⋅Δ(y) to find vfy; then I substituted the known values so that it would be vfy^2=(17⋅sin51)^2⋅2(-9.8)(8.5) which I found that vfy=2.818375277.
Then I substituted this value to the equation vfy=gt+viy which gave me 2.818375277=-9.8t+(17⋅sin51); this gave me the time of 1.06052127. However, when I input this solution into the answer option it says that I was incorrect. I don't know what/how I messed up, help would be greatly appreciated.
 
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OnePunch said:

Homework Statement


A hammer bro is throwing hammers with a velocity of 1.7 E 1 m/s at 51 degrees down at Mario from a ledge that is 8.5 m tall. Assume that gravitational acceleration in the Mushroom Kingdom is the same as on Earth.
Determine how long each hammer in in the air.

Homework Equations


vfy^2=viy^2+2g ⋅Δ(y)
vfy=gt+viy

The Attempt at a Solution


I tried the method of using the equation: vfy^2=viy^2+2g⋅Δ(y) to find vfy; then I substituted the known values so that it would be vfy^2=(17⋅sin51)^2⋅2(-9.8)(8.5) which I found that vfy=2.818375277.
Then I substituted this value to the equation vfy=gt+viy which gave me 2.818375277=-9.8t+(17⋅sin51); this gave me the time of 1.06052127. However, when I input this solution into the answer option it says that I was incorrect. I don't know what/how I messed up, help would be greatly appreciated.

You have ##g = -9.8 m/s^2##, which means "down" is the negative direction. Have you been consistent in this?

Note that units are important.
 
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I believe so as in the first equation I used: vfy^2= (17⋅sin51)^2⋅-19.6⋅8.5. Is is acceptable for me to have 2g as -19.6, or is that where I am faltering? The solution for vfy=2.818375277; and in the second equation I used: vfy=gt+viy→vfy-viy=gt→(vfy-viy)/g=t. This gives me -10.39310607/-9.8=t, then t= 1.06052127.
 
OnePunch said:
I believe so as in the first equation I used: vfy^2= (17⋅sin51)^2⋅-19.6⋅8.5. Is is acceptable for me to have 2g as -19.6, or is that where I am faltering? The solution for vfy=2.818375277; and in the second equation I used: vfy=gt+viy→vfy-viy=gt→(vfy-viy)/g=t. This gives me -10.39310607/-9.8=t, then t= 1.06052127.

What have you got for the displacement in the y-direction?

By the way, when I asked whether you had been consistent, that was just a polite way of saying that you hadn't been consistent!
 
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Should Δy be -8.5 instead of regular 8.5? And I don't see where I messed up with the -9.8m/s^2 consistency.
 
OnePunch said:
Should Δy be -8.5 instead of regular 8.5? And I don't see where I messed up with the -9.8m/s^2 consistency.

Well, that's it. If ##g = -9.8 m/s^2##, then ##\Delta y = -8.5m##, as they are both downward.

You need to be careful with the signs of your initial and final velocities as well. For example:

OnePunch said:

Homework Statement


I found that vfy=2.818375277.

You have a positive value there, but ##v_{fy}## must be negative.
 
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I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
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