Solving the Displacement of a Catapulted Stone

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a stone catapulted at an initial velocity of 20.5 m/s at an angle of 41.4° above the horizontal. Participants are tasked with finding the horizontal and vertical components of displacement at two different times, 1.16 s and 1.70 s.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of kinematic equations to calculate displacement components. There are attempts to clarify the correct initial velocity components for both horizontal and vertical directions. Some participants express uncertainty about their calculations and seek confirmation of their methods.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants questioning the accuracy of the initial velocity components used in their calculations. Some guidance has been provided regarding the correct interpretation of initial velocity, but no consensus has been reached on the overall approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the information they can share or the methods they can use. There is a noted confusion regarding the initial velocity components, which is central to the problem.

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Homework Statement



A stone is catapulted at time t = 0, with an initial velocity of magnitude 20.5 m/s and at an angle of 41.4° above the horizontal. What are the magnitudes of the (a) horizontal and (b) vertical components of its displacement from the catapult site at t = 1.16 s? Repeat for the (c) horizontal and (d) vertical components at t = 1.70 s.

I tried multiple solutions, but none of them are right, so I do not know what I am doing wrong.

The Attempt at a Solution



Ok so I think this is the closest I got to the answer, but I used the equation V=Vo(t)+(1/2)(a)(t)^2 So for the horizontal component at 1.16s I got x=20.5(1.16)+(1/2)(0)(1.16)^2 and I got x=23.78m. For the vertical component I got y=20.5(1.16)+(1/2)(-9.8)(1.16)^2 and y=17.18656m. For 1.7 seconds: x=20.5(1.7)+(1/2)(0)(1.7)^2 and I got x=34.85m for y: y=20.5(1.7)+(1/2)(-9.8)(1.7)^2 and y=20.689.
(I think these were the closest answers I got, but I tried different methods which were all wrong so help is appreciated)
 
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rover_dude said:
So for the horizontal component at 1.16s I got x=20.5(1.16)+(1/2)(0)(1.16)^2

The horizontal component of initial velocity is not 20.5

For the vertical component I got y=20.5(1.16)+(1/2)(-9.8)(1.16)^2

The vertical component of initial velocity is not 20.5
 


So, If I have the correct initial velocity, this method would be correct?
 


rover_dude said:
So, If I have the correct initial velocity, this method would be correct?

Yes.
 

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