Solving Shell Motion with Initial Velocity of 60 m/s

Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on solving the motion of a shell fired at an initial velocity of 60 m/s from a height of 500 meters at an angle of π/3. The calculations for the parametric equations of motion are confirmed as x(t) = 60cos(π/3)t and y(t) = -4.9t^2 + 60sin(π/3)t + 500. The maximum height is calculated to be 637.75 m, reached at approximately 5.3 seconds, while the time of impact with the ground is found to be around 10.11 seconds. The horizontal distance traveled by the shell at impact is 303.3 m, and the speed at impact is determined to be 55.86 m/s. The calculations are validated, and any confusion regarding the angle is clarified as a typographical error.
Physics2341313
Messages
53
Reaction score
0
I've put the problem statement below and worked it out. I typically don't post questions like this as they're a lot to go through, but I am wondering if I have worked the problem correctly as my book does not have the solution and I feel like I am not understand the material correctly.

1. Homework Statement


A shell is fired upward from the top of a building at an angle of \pi /3 with the horizontal. Its initial velocity is 60 m/s, and assume it is fired from the point (0, 500) when t=0 and x''(t) = 0 and y''(t)=-9.8 m/s^2 while 0 \le t \le t_2 is the time when the shell hits the ground.

The Attempt at a Solution



Given that x&#039;&#039;(t) = 0 and y&#039;&#039;(t) = -9.8 we have r''(t) = <0, -9.8> integrating the vector-valued function we have r&#039;(t) = &lt;C, -9.8t + C&gt; \rightarrow r&#039;(t) = &lt;60cos(\pi/3), -9.8t + 60sin(\pi/3)&gt; using the initial velocity given. Integrating again to get the position we have r(t) = &lt;60cos(\pi/3)t + C, -4.9t^2 + 60sin(\pi/3)t + C&gt; r(t) = &lt;60cos(\pi/3)t, -4.9t^2 + 60sin(\pi/3)t + 500&gt; using the point (0, 500) given.

Now, are the parametric equations x(t) and y(t) for r(t)=&lt;x(t),y(t)&gt; just x(t) = 60cos(\pi/3)t and y(t) = -4.9t^2 + 60sin(\pi/3) + 500?

Solving for the time the shell reaches the maximum height will be the time at which y&#039;(t) = 0? so we have: -9.8t + 60sin(\pi/3) = 0 \Rightarrow t = 60sin(\pi/3)/9.8 = 5.3 s
The maximum height will then be y(5.3) = -4.9(5.3)^2 + 60sin(\pi/3)(5.3) + 500 = 637.75 m
The time the shell hits the ground is when y(t) = 0? so we have: 0 = -4.9t^2 + 60sin(\pi/3)t + 500 \Rightarrow t = 10.11
Horizontal distance: x(10.11) = 60cos(\pi/3)(10.11) = 303.3 m

The speed of shell at impact:

||r&#039;(10.11)|| = \sqrt{(60cos(\pi/3))^2 + (-9.8(10.11) + 60sin(\pi/3))^2} = 55.86 m/s

Is this the correct way to calculate the speed? As speed is just the magnitude of the velocity?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Physics2341313 said:
A shell is fired upward from the top of a building at an angle of π/6

Physics2341313 said:
r′(t)=<60cos(π/3),−9.8t+60sin(π/3)>
The angles are different. Am I missing something?
 
No, sorry I mistyped I'll fix it.
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
11
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
1K