Starship + 2 different planets?

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SUMMARY

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving projectile motion on Earth and Planet X. Captain Curious rolls a ball off a table in a starship, observing that it lands 2.76 times farther on Planet X than on Earth. The key to solving the problem lies in applying the four basic equations of motion to derive the acceleration due to gravity on Planet X. By establishing the relationship between the horizontal range and the vertical height, participants aim to eliminate time from the equations to find the required expression.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of projectile motion principles
  • Familiarity with the four basic equations of motion
  • Knowledge of initial velocity and its impact on range
  • Ability to manipulate algebraic expressions and solve equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Derive the range formula for projectile motion given initial velocity and height
  • Calculate the acceleration due to gravity using the derived range expression
  • Explore the effects of varying initial speeds on projectile range
  • Investigate the differences in gravitational acceleration on different celestial bodies
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Students studying physics, educators teaching projectile motion, and anyone interested in understanding gravitational effects on different planets.

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Starship + 2 different planets?

Homework Statement


The problem from my textbook is:
Inside a starship at rest on earth, a ball rolls off the top of a horizontal table and lands a distance D from the foot of the table. This starship now lands on the unexplored Planet X. The commander, Captain Curious, rolls the same ball off the same table with the same initial speed as on Earth and finds that it lands a distance 2.76D from the foot of the table. What is the acceleration due to gravity on Planet X?


Homework Equations


The 4 basic equations of motion:
V=Vi + a x delta t
S=Si + Vi x delta t + 1/2at^s
S=Si + 1/2(V+Vi)delta t
V^2= Vi^2 + 2a(S-Si)


The Attempt at a Solution


I know the initial velocity is the same in both cases, I figure you have to substitute the initial velocity in one with an equation with the acceleration on earth. I'm kind of lost from this point.
What I really need is some one to explain how to solve it.
 
Last edited:
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This is a projectile motion problem. You need to find an expression for the range of the projectile given that it has initial velocity v0 only in the horizontal direction and starts at height h above ground. Can you find such an expression?
 


I'd have to rearrange equations and substitute them into one another and I wouldn't know where to start.
 


Start by writing expressions for the horizontal position of the ball at any time t and for the position of the ball above ground at any time t. Eliminate the time and find an expression giving the dependence of the range on the vertical height and the initial speed.
 

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