Projectiles launched at an angle question

  • Thread starter Thread starter SmallPub
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Angle Projectiles
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 2K views
SmallPub
Messages
19
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement

An object is thrown from the ground into the air with a velocity of 20.0m/s at an angle of 27.0° to the horizontal what is the maximum height?

v= 20.0 m/s a=-9.81m/s^2 angle = 27.0

Homework Equations

a=v/t , v= d/t

The Attempt at a Solution

sin(27.0°) = y/20.0m/s (first i solved the vertical direction)

y = sin(27.0°) x 20.0m/s

y =9.07980 m/s

a=v/t (times t then divided by a)

t== vf - vi / a , t=-9.07980 - 9.07980 / -9.81m/s^2

t=1.8511s

cos(27.0) = x/20.0m/s

x = cos(27.0) x 20.0m/s

x= 17.8201m/s

v=d/t , d= VxT

d = 17.8201m/s x 1.8511s

d = 30.0 m ?

I thought you solved it the same way as you solve the object going horizontally. I am really confused how to solve for height.

Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I thought you solved it the same way as you solve the object going horizontally. I am really confused how to solve for height.
The height is not the same as the range - therefore it is not the same method.
You have to think about why you are doing each step and not just memorize the steps.
The height is all about the y component of the motion ... so you have v and angle A.

The y component of the initial velocity is v.sinA ... well done.
The acceleration due to gravity in the +y direction is -g (no need to put numbers in yet)

t== vf - vi / a , t=-9.07980 - 9.07980 / -9.81m/s^2
... what is the y-velocity when the projectile has reached it's maximum height?

Do you know a kinematic equation which will give you the final displacement, given the initial and final velocities, and the acceleration?
 
Simon Bridge said:
... what is the y-velocity when the projectile has reached it's maximum height?

would it be 9.0798m/s?

Do you know a kinematic equation which will give you the final displacement, given the initial and final velocities, and the acceleration?

d=vi.t + 1/2.a.t^2 ?
 
Simon Bridge said:
... what is the y-velocity when the projectile has reached it's maximum height?

SmallPub said:
would it be 9.0798m/s?

If that were true, why isn't the projectile still traveling upward?

If something is not moving in a certain direction, what is its velocity in that direction?
 
would [ y-velocity when the projectile has reached it's maximum height] be 9.0798m/s?
What is the value of y when the ball has that speed??

You need to watch a projectile in motion. Get something you can throw - a ball is good.
Throw it straight up. Catch it. Watch carefully - do it several times.

Observe:
At what y-position is the speed a maximum?
At what y-position is the speed a minimum?
While it is going up, what happens to it's vertical speed?
While it is going down, what happens to it's vertical speed?
When it is at exactly the top of it's trajectory, what is it's speed?

d=vi.t + 1/2.a.t^2 ?
That's a good kinematic equation - but it has time in it.
You don't know the time ... you need one for displacement, given the initial and final velocities and the acceleration.
i.e. you want d, given vi, vf, and a.