Understanding Exercise 3 and 8 in Freefall and Motion Law

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding exercises related to freefall and motion laws, specifically focusing on the interpretation of equations and concepts in physics. The original poster seeks clarification on specific subpoints of exercise 3 and attempts to solve exercise 8, which involves calculating angles and trajectory equations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the reasoning behind the equation y(t)=0 in the context of choosing a reference point for height. There is also exploration of using dot and cross products to find angles between vectors, with some questioning the appropriateness of their methods. The original poster expresses uncertainty about eliminating time in the trajectory equation.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with each other's ideas, providing guidance on vector relationships and the use of mathematical expressions. There is a recognition of the need to clarify concepts without reaching a consensus on specific solutions. The discussion is ongoing, with multiple interpretations being explored.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on the lack of specified values for certain variables, indicating that the answers may be functions of time. The original poster is preparing for an upcoming test, which adds urgency to their inquiries.

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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