Understanding Exercise 3 and 8 in Freefall and Motion Law

AI Thread Summary
Exercise 3 involves understanding why the height equation is set to zero at landing, with the reference point chosen as the ground. For Exercise 8, the angle between the velocity and acceleration vectors can be calculated using the dot product, which simplifies the process compared to the cross product. The trajectory equation requires eliminating time by relating the functions of x and y. The calculations for the angle yield a function of time, which is acceptable since the problem does not specify a fixed time value. Clarifications on these concepts are crucial for preparing for the upcoming test.
Andrei0408
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Homework Statement
I've attached the pictures to this
Relevant Equations
F=ma, dot product
I need help with the exercises attached in the pictures. Basically, exercise 3 is already solved but I need some help understanding every subpoint (for example, at a) how did we get to 0=H -g* tAO/2 , I know it's from the motion law and vA=0, but why is y(t)=0?). And I tried solving ex 8, but I need help at a) and c). I calculated the velocity and the acc but I don't know how I could find the angle between the two (cross product was my guess but I'm not sure), and c) I know that to find the trajectory eq I need to eliminate time, but I don't know for sure how I'm supposed to do that. Even if you don't explain both exercises or not all subpoints, anything is appreciated as I have a test next week and I need to understand. Thank you!
 

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Andrei0408 said:
Homework Statement:: I've attached the pictures to this
Relevant Equations:: F=ma, dot product

why is y(t)=0?
You can choose the reference point for having height zero however you like. The author has chosen the ground as illustrated in the diagram, so the initial height is H and height at time of interest (landing) is zero.
Andrei0408 said:
Homework Statement:: I've attached the pictures to this
Relevant Equations:: F=ma, dot product

angle between the two (cross product was my guess
That certainly works as a step along tge way, but the dot product is easier.
Given vectors ##\vec u## and ##\vec v## with angle ##\theta## between them, what expressions can you write for ##|\vec u.\vec v|## and ##|\vec u\times \vec v|## in terms of ##|\vec u|##, ##|\vec v|## and angle ##\theta##?
Andrei0408 said:
Homework Statement:: I've attached the pictures to this
Relevant Equations:: F=ma, dot product

to find the trajectory eq I need to eliminate time
You are almost there. You have t equal to a function of x and t equal to a function of y, so...
 
haruspex said:
You can choose the reference point for having height zero however you like. The author has chosen the ground as illustrated in the diagram, so the initial height is H and height at time of interest (landing) is zero.

That certainly works as a step along tge way, but the dot product is easier.
Given vectors ##\vec u## and ##\vec v## with angle ##\theta## between them, what expressions can you write for ##|\vec u.\vec v|## and ##|\vec u\times \vec v|## in terms of ##|\vec u|##, ##|\vec v|## and angle ##\theta##?

You are almost there. You have t equal to a function of x and t equal to a function of y, so...
I mean to say dot product there. But I get v=100t which would give me a weird result. Could you help me a bit more? Also at c) I know I need to eliminate time, so I subtracted the two relations, is this correct?
 

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Andrei0408 said:
I get v=100t
No, you got ##\vec v.\vec a=100t##. How do you get from there to the angle? Can you answer the question I asked about the dot product in post #2?
Andrei0408 said:
at c) I know I need to eliminate time, so I subtracted the two relations, is this correct?
Your answer looks right.
 
haruspex said:
You can choose the reference point for having height zero however you like. The author has chosen the ground as illustrated in the diagram, so the initial height is H and height at time of interest (landing) is zero.

That certainly works as a step along tge way, but the dot product is easier.
Given vectors ##\vec u## and ##\vec v## with angle ##\theta## between them, what expressions can you write for ##|\vec u.\vec v|## and ##|\vec u\times \vec v|## in terms of ##|\vec u|##, ##|\vec v|## and angle ##\theta##?

You are almost there. You have t equal to a function of x and t equal to a function of y, so...
I mean to say dot product there.
haruspex said:
No, you got ##\vec v.\vec a=100t##. How do you get from there to the angle? Can you answer the question I asked about the dot product in post #2?

Your answer looks right.
Well v.a = |v| * |a| * cosθ and v x a = |v| * |a| * sinθ
 
Andrei0408 said:
I mean to say dot product there.
Well v.a = |v| * |a| * cosθ and v x a = |v| * |a| * sinθ
Roght, so what do you get for cosθ from your dot product?
 
haruspex said:
Roght, so what do you get for cosθ from your dot product?
cosθ = v.a / |v| * |a| . The thing was, I couldn't calculate |v| since that would be sqrt(16 + 100t), because there is a t. But now that you've mentioned the cross product, I can calculate v x a with the determinant(it's 40k), and if I calculate v.a/v x a the magnitudes of the vectors v and a reduce and I get cosθ/sinθ = 100t/40k, which is cotθ=100t/40k. So θ=arccot(100t/40k). But even in this form, I can't really get a proper angle. Did I complicate things or is this right?
 
Andrei0408 said:
that would be sqrt(16 + 100t)
t2.
The question does not specify a value for t, so it is to be expected that the answer is a function of t.
 
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haruspex said:
t2.
The question does not specify a value for t, so it is to be expected that the answer is a function of t.
Thank you!
 
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