What is the angle of a falling object's velocity after 2 seconds?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a stone thrown from a cliff at a speed of 30 m/s at an angle of 0 degrees. Participants are discussing how to determine the angle of the stone's velocity after 2 seconds, specifically with respect to the horizontal direction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to calculate the vertical component of velocity (Vy) after 2 seconds, questioning the initial vertical velocity (Vyo) and its implications on the angle calculation. There is discussion about the use of tangent and inverse tangent functions in determining the angle.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided calculations and expressed uncertainty about the correct approach to finding the angle. There is a recognition that both Vy and the resulting angle should be negative, and some guidance has been offered regarding the use of inverse tangent.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the assumption that the stone is thrown horizontally, and there is a focus on the effects of gravity on the vertical component of velocity. The discussion reflects confusion over the initial conditions and the appropriate mathematical methods to apply.

yankees26an
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Homework Statement



A stone is thrown off a high cliff with speed 30m/s at an angle 0 degrees. At what angle is the stone's velocity 2 seconds after it's thrown. (measired with respect to the horizontal x direction(angle will be negative))

Homework Equations



angle = tan(Vy/Vx)



The Attempt at a Solution


V = velocity
Vx = stays constant = 30m/s
Vy = Vyo + ay*t = 30 m/s + 19.6 m/s = 49.6 m/s

angle = tan(49.6/30) which is wrong
 
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yankees26an said:
Vx = stays constant = 30m/s
Vy = Vyo + ay*t = 30 m/s + 19.6 m/s = 49.6 m/s
What's Vyo equal to?
 
Doc Al said:
What's Vyo equal to?

Then I guess it would be 0 m/s?

If it was 0 then I would have Vy = 19.6 and then

tan(19.6/30) is still not the right answer
 
Seems right to me. Don't forget that Vy and thus the angle are both negative.
 
tan((-19.6) / 30) = -0.765477483

The correct answer(supposedly) is -33.2 degrees with respect to the horizontal +x direction.
 
yankees26an said:
tan((-19.6) / 30) = -0.765477483
That should be inverse tan, not tan. tanθ = (-19.6/30) → θ = tan-1(-19.6/30). (I misread what you wrote before. :rolleyes:)
 

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