Solving Shell Motion with Initial Velocity of 60 m/s

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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 participant successfully derived the parametric equations for the shell's trajectory, calculated the time to reach maximum height (5.3 seconds), and determined the maximum height (637.75 meters) and the time of impact (10.11 seconds). The horizontal distance traveled at impact was calculated to be 303.3 meters, and the speed at impact was found to be 55.86 m/s, confirming the correct application of kinematic equations.

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Physics2341313
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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:
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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?

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