What is the projectiles time of flight?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the time of flight for a projectile launched at 35 m/s at a 40-degree angle. Participants emphasize the importance of analyzing the vertical motion using the equation y = v_{y0}t - gt^2/2, where v_{y0} is the initial vertical velocity. The initial vertical velocity is calculated as v_{y0} = 35 m/s * sin(40). To find the total time of flight, the time to reach maximum height is determined first, and then doubled to account for the descent. The conversation highlights using SUVAT equations to solve for time, ultimately leading to a quadratic equation to find the time when the projectile returns to the ground.
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Havin a bit of trouble on this one, just because of the lack of information.

A projectile is launched over level ground at 35 m/s at an angle of 40 degrees above the horizontal. What is the projectiles time of flight?

Someone mind helpin me out? :smile:
 
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Ive figured out the velocity of the X and Y components but i don't know where to go from there...
 
You can determine the vertical component of the velocity at t = 0 so you know that
y = v_{y0}t - gt^2/2
from which you can determine when the projectile hits the ground.
 
Consider only the vertical motion of the projectile. You have intitial and final vertical velocities, as well as the acceleration (g), so how to find time?
 
Tide said:
You can determine the vertical component of the velocity at t = 0 so you know that
y = v_{y0}t - gt^2/2
from which you can determine when the projectile hits the ground.

Doesn't that involve finding vertical distance (y) first? The formula I was getting at allows you to solve this question in one step.
 
hmm, sorry I still can't figure it out :confused: Does Vf = 0 in this situation?
 
Well, think about the unidirectional motion upwards (forget the trip back down for now). What happens when the projectile reaches the summit of its trajectory?
 
The Velocity is equal to 0. But how could that be if the object isn't just going up and down? Its always moving isn't it?
 
Sirus said:
Doesn't that involve finding vertical distance (y) first? The formula I was getting at allows you to solve this question in one step.

"y'' is the specific height when "t'' is a specific time.
So, if you are looking for the "time when it meets the ground" (t=t_\text{ground}) then "y'' is the height at the ground (y=y_\text{ground}).

So, think of Tide's equation as
y_\text{ground} = v_{y0}t_\text{ground} - gt_\text{ground}{}^2/2
 
  • #10
My way is easier.

Format, it is moving but at the summit of its trajectory its vertical velocity is zero. Therefore, you can consider only the vertical velocity to find time using
v_{f}=v_{i}+at
Solve for t and multiply by two (downward trip as well).
 
  • #11
Sirus said:
My way is easier.

Format, it is moving but at the summit of its trajectory its vertical velocity is zero. Therefore, you can consider only the vertical velocity to find time using
v_{f}=v_{i}+at
Solve for t and multiply by two (downward trip as well).

Sirus is right...but remember that in this formula Vi= initial velocity in y...so it is not the velocity that is given in the problem. Viy = 35m/s sen 40.
vf would be zero... solve for t and that will be the time to reach the maximum height . Then multiply by two to consider also the time to fall from that maximum height. (in proyectiles the time to go up equals the time to go down)
 
  • #12
Format said:
Havin a bit of trouble on this one, just because of the lack of information.

A projectile is launched over level ground at 35 m/s at an angle of 40 degrees above the horizontal. What is the projectiles time of flight?

Someone mind helpin me out? :smile:

Just use the SUVAT equations.

Consider vertically:
u = 35sin40, S = 0, a = -9.8, t = ?
You'll get a quadratic by using the correct formulae. One solution is t=0 (at the start). The other is when the projectile touches the ground again (the time of flight).
 
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