Two balls thrown at the same speed from the same height

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the physics problem of two balls thrown from a cliff at the same speed but at different angles, α above and β below the horizontal. Both balls strike the ground with the same speed, which can be derived using the equations of motion under the influence of gravity, specifically utilizing the vertical component of velocity. The key equations involved include V = at + v₀ and the kinematic equation x - x₀ = vt + 1/2at², where a = -9.8 m/s². The solution requires focusing on the vertical components and applying the sine function to account for the angles of projection.

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  • Familiarity with trigonometric functions, specifically sine
  • Basic grasp of gravitational acceleration (g = 9.8 m/s²)
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  • Explore the concept of energy conservation in projectile motion
  • Investigate the effects of air resistance on projectile trajectories
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pelmel92
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Homework Statement



Two balls are thrown with equal speeds from the top of a cliff of height h. One ball is thrown at an angle of α above the horizontal. The other ball is thrown at an angle of β below the horizontal. Show that each ball strikes the ground with the same speed. (Do this on paper. Your instructor may ask you to turn in this work.)

Find that speed in terms of h and the initial speed v0. (Ignore any effects due to air resistance.) (Use any variable or symbol stated above along with the following as necessary: g for the acceleration due to gravity.)
v =

Homework Equations



V= at + v_0

The Attempt at a Solution



v=√(v_0^2cos^2(ø) +[h/t]^2)

im just plain stuck here... not even sure if I am interpreting the q correctly, and if i am then i can't figure out how to get rid of that time variable... HELP
 
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You basically want to write an equation for the velocity of each ball, and show that at a height of zero they are equal. You are only concerned with the vertical component, so this will involve using the sine function.

Remember that measuring from the horizontal, sin(a) is a positive quantity and sin(β) is negative. Also, I think you should use this equation:

x-x0=vt + 1/2at2 where a = -9.8m/s/s.
 

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