The only trajectory problem on my whole SI sheet (trajectory) I cannot do

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Homework Help Overview

This is a trajectory problem involving a ball launched from ground level at an unknown angle and velocity. The ball travels 20 meters horizontally and 25 meters vertically before hitting a wall at a -45 degree angle below the horizon. The objective is to find the initial velocity and direction, as well as the speed upon impact with the wall.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to relate the final angle of impact to the initial angle and velocity, expressing difficulty in isolating these variables. They explore various methods to cancel out variables but struggle to derive the original velocities.
  • Some participants question the implications of the ball hitting the wall at a -45 degree angle and what that suggests about the maximum height reached without the wall.
  • There are discussions about the equations of motion and the proper formulation of the equations, with some corrections noted regarding the inclusion of time in the equations.
  • One participant suggests defining a time variable to analyze the horizontal and vertical velocities at the moment of impact.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem and attempting to clarify the equations involved. There is no explicit consensus, but several lines of reasoning are being examined, including the relationship between the angles and the velocities.

Contextual Notes

Participants note constraints such as the unknown initial angle and velocity, as well as the lack of time information. The original poster expresses significant frustration and a desire to understand the problem without directly seeking answers.

realfuzzhead
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Homework Statement


This a trajectory problem. A ball is launched from ground level at a unknown angle. ( ∅o= ? ) at an unknown velocity ( Vo = ? )

The ball travels 20 meters in the x direction and 25 meters up in the y direction. At this point (20,25) the ball hits a wall and a -45 angle below the horizon. Find the initial velocity ( Mag and direction ) and the speed when the ball hits the wall

Homework Equations



the only equations we have been given are

Vyfinal = Vo( Sin ∅o) - gt
Δ Y = Vo( Sin ∅o) - 1/2g (t)^2

ΔX = Vo(cos ∅) (t)

Vo( Cos ∅o) = Vf(Cos ∅o)

Xmax = (Vo^2 * (Sin 2∅))/ g


The Attempt at a Solution



I cannot post all my notes. I have finished, and double checked all my other answers on 2 whole trajectory work sheets. But I cannot for the life of me figure out how to find the initial angle as a function of the final angle again the change in distance.
I have even tried switching the whole problem around and shooting at 45° from 25 meters up and I still cannot find a result that works.

I have done probably 10-11 different tries of canceling out different variables (especially Vo and Vf and T) and finding them as products or sums of other variables, but I can never find a way to get the original y velocity or the orignal x velocity.

I do know that when the ball hits the wall the Y velocity is = to the -(x velocity), because tan-1 45° = -1 (-y/x)

I have spent over 2 hours on this problem and I have searched the interwbs for help but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to find the original angle if I know the final angle but don't know either the final or intial x or y velocities. I also don't know the time

I really, really don't like asking for answers to problems because I really like sitting down with a cup of joe and figuring it out for myself and actually learning, but I literally have grown some grey hairs and ruined my weekend over the amount of stress I have experienced over this problem, and I would really really appreciate if someone could answer this one if not give me a HUGE hint
 
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If the ball hits the wall at an angle of 45° after traveling 25m upwards, what does that tell you about what the maximum height reached would have been if the wall was not present?
 
Last edited:
Δ Y = Vo( Sin ∅o) - 1/2g (t)^2

Should be Δ Y = Vo( Sin ∅o)t[/color] - 1/2g (t)^2
 
realfuzzhead said:

Homework Statement


This a trajectory problem. A ball is launched from ground level at a unknown angle. ( ∅o= ? ) at an unknown velocity ( Vo = ? )

The ball travels 20 meters in the x direction and 25 meters up in the y direction. At this point (20,25) the ball hits a wall and a -45 angle below the horizon. Find the initial velocity ( Mag and direction ) and the speed when the ball hits the wall

Homework Equations



the only equations we have been given are

Vyfinal = Vo( Sin ∅o) - gt
Δ Y = Vo( Sin ∅o) - 1/2g (t)^2

ΔX = Vo(cos ∅) (t)

Vo( Cos ∅o) = Vf(Cos ∅o)

Xmax = (Vo^2 * (Sin 2∅))/ g


The Attempt at a Solution



I cannot post all my notes. I have finished, and double checked all my other answers on 2 whole trajectory work sheets. But I cannot for the life of me figure out how to find the initial angle as a function of the final angle again the change in distance.
I have even tried switching the whole problem around and shooting at 45° from 25 meters up and I still cannot find a result that works.

I have done probably 10-11 different tries of canceling out different variables (especially Vo and Vf and T) and finding them as products or sums of other variables, but I can never find a way to get the original y velocity or the orignal x velocity.

I do know that when the ball hits the wall the Y velocity is = to the -(x velocity), because tan-1 45° = -1 (-y/x)

I have spent over 2 hours on this problem and I have searched the interwbs for help but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to find the original angle if I know the final angle but don't know either the final or intial x or y velocities. I also don't know the time

I really, really don't like asking for answers to problems because I really like sitting down with a cup of joe and figuring it out for myself and actually learning, but I literally have grown some grey hairs and ruined my weekend over the amount of stress I have experienced over this problem, and I would really really appreciate if someone could answer this one if not give me a HUGE hint

The parabolic path followed passes through 0,0 and 20,25, and the gradient at (20,25) is -1
The second derivative anywhere is -9.8

Surely if you put all that together the answer can be extracted
That enables you
 
NascentOxygen said:
Should be Δ Y = Vo( Sin ∅o)t[/color] - 1/2g (t)^2

I typed this very late last night, I promise you that that "t" was there in every single one of my equations. I lose track of variables when I have to keep typing out all the little subscripts and figures, sorry.

217 MeV said:
If the ball hits the wall at an angle of 45° after traveling 25m upwards, what does that tell you about what the maximum height reached would have been if the wall was not present?

it hits the wall at a -45 degree angle after it maximum y value
 
"The parabolic path followed passes through 0,0 and 20,25, and the gradient at (20,25) is -1
The second derivative anywhere is -9.8

Surely if you put all that together the answer can be extracted
That enables you"I just started calculus 2 weeks ago. I am decent with derivatives but to be honest I have never done a lick of integration, which is what I would need to go from having the derivative to the original right?
 
Define a time, t, for yourself, that being how long it takes to get to the wall. So we know at time t its horizontal and vertical velocities are both 20/t.

Now ask a different question - with initial velocities 20/t both horiz and vertical, from a height 25, what angle will its flight intersect the horizontal if it goes from there?
 

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