Projectile: time max height reached

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the time it takes for a rock thrown at an angle to reach its maximum height. The initial velocity is given as 3.13 m/s at a 30-degree angle, with the final vertical velocity at maximum height being 0 m/s and acceleration due to gravity as -9.8 m/s². The initial vertical velocity is calculated as 1.57 m/s using the sine function. The user initially arrives at a time of 0.319 seconds, while the correct answer is noted as 0.313 seconds, leading to confusion about potential errors. It is clarified that the discrepancy arises from using different values for gravitational acceleration, with the user's calculation being more precise.
Newlander
Messages
6
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


"A boy throws a rock with an initial velocity of 3.13 m/s at 30.0 degrees above the horizontal. How long does it take for the rock to reach the maximum height of its trajectory?"

vi = 3.13 m/s
tmax height = ?
vf = 0 m/s (at max height)
a = -9.8 m/s2


Homework Equations


vf = vi + at

(Not sure!)




The Attempt at a Solution


vf = vi + at
t = [(vf - vi) / a] = [(0 m/s - 3.13 m/s)/-9.8 m/s2]
t = 0.319 s

Concern:
The correct answer is listed as 0.313 s; because my answer is so close, I wondered if this were a typo. If not, I clearly am taking the wrong approach and would appreciate some guidance.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The ball has been thrown at an angle, and the magnitude of the initial velocity is 3.13 m/s. With what initial velocity does the ball move upward?

ehild
 
Hmmm . . . so, I should determine viy? If so, 3.13 m/s sin(30) = 1.57 m/s . . . sorry--not clear on how this will help me arrive at what's noted as the correct answer. I did plug this figure into vf2 - vi2 = 2ad, and then determined d from that . . . and then plugged that d into d = vit + 1/2at2 to determine t . . . but I ended up with the same answer, 0.319 s.
 
You have the formula vf=vi+at already. Apply it to the vertical velocity components. At the maximum height, vy=0 (not the velocity v, as the ball keeps it horizontal velocity component during the whole flight)

ehild
 
Lol, this is going to seem so simple after . . .

You used: -9.8m/s2

They used: -10m/s2

You got the correct answer under a more precise measurement.
 
Last edited:
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...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...

Similar threads

Back
Top