Solve for Ball's Height After Launch in Circular Chute

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The discussion focuses on calculating the horizontal distance a ball lands after being launched from a semicircular chute with a centripetal acceleration of 2g at the top. The initial velocity of the ball is determined to be sqrt(2gR), and the time of free fall is calculated as sqrt(4R/g). The vertical distance fallen is 2R, leading to the horizontal distance traveled being derived from the initial velocity multiplied by the time of fall. The correct horizontal distance is found to be 2sqrt(2)R, clarifying earlier confusion regarding the vertical velocity. The final calculations confirm the relationship between the chute's dimensions and the ball's trajectory.
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A ball is launched up a semicircular chute in such a way that at the top of the chute, just before it goes into free fall, the ball has a centripetal acceleration of magnitude 2 g.

How far from the bottom of the chute does the ball land?

Height=2R

I got initial velocity=sqrt(2gR), and I plugged that into d=vit+1/2at^2, to give me 2R=sqrt(2gR)t+1/2gt^2, and I used the quadratic formula and got [-sqrt(2gR)+sqrt((2gR)-4gR))]/g, which simplifies to [sqrt(6gR)-sqrt(2gR)]/g. But, that was wrong...and I'm really not sure where I went wrong. Can someone tell me what the problem is here?
 
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distance of downward fall = 2R. time of fall = sqrt(4R/g) from d = 1/2 g t^2. Note: the
initial vertical velocity is zero. (I am thinking of the chute as the right half of a circle---I hope this is the right picture).

Hence horizontal distance traveled = the initial velocity you got, namely sqrt(2 g R),
times the time of fall. This gives horizontal distance traveled = sqrt(8)*R or 2 sqrt(2) R.
 
Thank you, I thought the vertical velocity was sqrt(2gR) for some reason. I see it now, thanks.
 
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