What does "vertical plane" mean in physics?

[Danya314]

Homework Statement

The problem states a situtation where two hoops, their centers, and a launch site are all in the same vertical plane. The objective is to launch a tennis ball into both hoops from the launch site. What does it means when it says "vertical plane"? The launch site is not directly beneath the hoops because the question mentions a unique horizontal distance from each hoop to the launch site.

Homework Equations

xf=xi+a*t
yf=yi+vi*t+.5*a*t^2

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Dr. Courtney]

Try drawing a picture. I would interpret as, "There exists a vertical plane in which these things exist."

 

[pasmith]

It's saying that the situation is two-dimensional, with a vertical coordinate and a horizontal coordinate.

 

[CWatters]

I'd like to see the exact wording. I can make sense of it if the centres of the hoops and the launch point are in the same vertical plane... but not the hoops themselves.

 

[Danya314]

Try drawing a picture. I would interpret as, "There exists a vertical plane in which these things exist."

What does vertical plane mean? I drew a picture, but I don't understand how the launch site and hoops be in the same vertical plane and be different horizontal distances from each other.

 

[SammyS]

What does vertical plane mean? I drew a picture, but I don't understand how the launch site and hoops be in the same vertical plane and be different horizontal distances from each other.

Not from each other.

The horizontal distance from the launch site to one of the loops, is different than from the launch site to the other hoop.

 

[CWatters]

If you put three pencil marks on a wall they will be "in the same vertical plane" (the plane of the wall). They can also be at "different horizontal distances from each other" (Unless you put the marks on top of each other).