# Homework Help: Velocity and Force Problem?

1. Mar 17, 2010

### cheerspens

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
The ball is moving at 2.0m/s just 40cm before it hits the table edge. If the ball has a mass of 51.3 grams and experiences a 0.23 N frictional force between it and the table, how fast will it be moving when it reaches the table's edge?

The table is 0.92m tall. How long will it take the ball to hit the ground?

2. Relevant equations

X=Xo+Vot+(0.5)at2
Y=Yo+Voyt+(0.5)at2
X=Xo+Voxt
FNET=ma
Fg=mg

3. The attempt at a solution
I used FNET=ma to solve for the acceleration and got -4.48m/s2. Then I used X=Xo+Vot+(0.5)at2 and the quadratic formula to solve for t and got 0.3 sec. I then plugged this into V=Vo+at to get a velocity of 0.656m/s. Is this correct?

For the second question: How long will it take for the ball to hit the ground?
I seemed to be stumped. Maybe my velocity I solved for is incorrect or I'm not even setting it up right?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Last edited: Mar 17, 2010
2. Mar 17, 2010

### ehild

Your result for the horizontal velocity on the table is correct.

When the ball is falling from the table, its motion can be decomposed into a horizontal motion with constant velocity (what you just calculated) and a vertical motion (free fall) with constant acceleration g. The time of reaching the ground is independent of the horizontal velocity.

ehild

3. Mar 19, 2010

### cheerspens

So the answer I'm getting is that it will take 0.09 sec for the ball to hit the ground and it will land 0.1719 meters away from the table.
Does this seem correct?

4. Mar 20, 2010

### ehild

No. How did you get 0.09 s?

ehild

5. Mar 21, 2010

### cheerspens

So if I were to set up a variable list for how long it will take the ball to hit the ground would it look like the following?

Xo=0m
X=?
Vox=1.91m/s
t=?
Yo=0.92m
Y=0m
Voy=-9.8m/s
g=-9.8m/s2

Using these values I got 0.09 seconds.

6. Mar 21, 2010

### ehild

I do not see how did you get Voy=-9.8m/s:

ehild

7. Mar 21, 2010

### cheerspens

o I have redone this problem making some corrections and have come up with these answers:

-When the ball reaches the table's edge it will be moving 0.65m/s.
-It will take the ball 0.44 seconds to hit the ground.
-The ball will land 0.286 meters away from the table?

Have I gotten this problem correct?

And if I were to graph my y-component velocity, would it be a constant 0m/s?

Thanks!

8. Mar 21, 2010

### ehild

vy is the vertical velocity. Do you really mean that it is constant and equal to zero?

ehild

9. Mar 21, 2010

### cheerspens

Because Voy is 0m/s I'm not sure how to graph the vy component. Once the ball hits the ground doesn't that also mean the velocity is 0m/s there?

10. Mar 21, 2010

### ehild

No, falling objects do hit the ground with some velocity. Their velocity becomes zero after they touch the ground, because of the interaction with it.

Zero velocity means no motion. Do you really think that a ball which falls of the table , will not move downward? How does it get to the ground?

ehild

11. Mar 21, 2010

### cheerspens

How do you solve for a vertical Vf?
Would it be like solving the equation V=$$\Delta$$X/$$\Delta$$t?

12. Mar 21, 2010

### ehild

It is average velocity, but let's start with it. What is the average vertical velocity of the ball?

13. Mar 21, 2010

### cheerspens

2.091m/s

14. Mar 22, 2010

### ehild

You see, the vertical (y) velocity component can not be constant as it is zero at the beginning of the fall and about 2.1 in m/s in average. It increases with time, the ball accelerates. What is the magnitude of this acceleration?

ehild

15. Mar 22, 2010

### Champdx

f=ma
0.23N=0.0513a
a=4.48m/s^2

v^2=u^2+2as
v^2=(2)^2+2(4.48)(40)
v^2=360
v=19m/s

s=ut+1/2at^2
0.92=(19)t+1/2(9.8)t^2
4.9t^2+19t-0.92=0
t=0.05s

Correct me if i'm wrong
Thanks

16. Mar 22, 2010

### ehild

What force acts on the ball after it left the table and moves in air?