Prove that an object, if thrown up under gravity

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around proving that an object thrown upward under gravitational force will take the same time to reach the apex of its trajectory as it takes to fall back to its original position, with air resistance ignored. The scope includes mathematical reasoning and conceptual clarification regarding motion under gravity.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests a proof of the time symmetry in the motion of an object thrown upward under gravity.
  • Another participant suggests using standard formulas for height and time under constant acceleration to demonstrate that the time to reach the highest point is half the total time of the motion.
  • A different participant provides a detailed breakdown of the motion, using components of velocity and gravitational acceleration to derive the time taken to rise and fall, concluding that both times are equal.
  • A later reply introduces a perspective based on Newton's laws, discussing the invariance of mechanics under time reversal and suggesting that this invariance supports the original proposition as a corollary.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple approaches to the problem, with some agreeing on the mathematical reasoning while others introduce different perspectives, leading to a lack of consensus on a single proof method.

Contextual Notes

Some arguments depend on assumptions about constant acceleration and the effects of gravity on vertical velocity. The discussion does not resolve the mathematical steps or the implications of time reversal in mechanics.

mahela007
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Can you show me how to prove that an object, if thrown up under gravitational force, will take the same time to reach the apex of it's trajectory as it takes to fall back to it's original position? (ignore air resistance)
 
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You are then assuming constant acceleration. You should be able to write down the standard formula for the height of the object at any time t, for any initial speed v0. Find the time until it reaches its highest point and the time until it comes back to the original height. Observe that the first time is exactly half the second time.
 
mahela007 said:
Can you show me how to prove that an object, if thrown up under gravitational force, will take the same time to reach the apex of it's trajectory as it takes to fall back to it's original position? (ignore air resistance)

well its easy
For parabolic path
because the time to rise and fall is affected by gravity (and gravity affects upon vertical velocity)
Break the velocity u into ucosx and usinx (x is angle)
here is vertical velocity is usinx
since it is affected by gravity its value decreses in maximum height that is V=o
and a = -g
that is thime to rise T1= o-usinx/ -g = usinx/g
and similarly after reaching the highest point than the gravity favours downward velocity and now velocity goes to increase and becomes maximum at the hitting the ground
At u=o and v= usinx
a=g
T2 = usinx-o/g
=usinx/g T1=T2
hence proved
 
If we consider forces F(x) that depend only on position x, then Newton's law takes the form:

x'' = F(x)

This equation is invariant under time reversal t -> -t since by the chain rule on the LHS we have minus time minus is plus, and the RHS is manifestly invariant. Therefore under these conditions the laws of mechanics are invariant under time reversal, from which the proposition stated by the OP follows as a corollary.
 

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