What Went Wrong in Solving the Ball Projection Problem?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sealy
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Ball Projection
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 2K views
Sealy
Messages
2
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A ball is projected horizontally from the edge of a table that is 0.443 m high, and it strikes the floor at a point 1.84 m from the base of the table.

The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s^2


Homework Equations



a) What is the initial speed of the ball? Answer in units of m/s

b) How high is the ball above the floor when its velocity vector makes a -18.9486 degree angle with the horizontal? Answer in units of m.


The Attempt at a Solution



a) i got it right, and the answer is 6.13

b) this is what i have trouble on. I started by finding Vy using (6.13)(tan -18.9486)=Vy and i got: Vy=-2.10 I then used the formula Vf = Vo + a*t to get time. I got t=-.21 s
Next i used d = volt + 0.5a*t^2 to solve for distance and i got d= .22

Finally i did 0.443-0.22 and i got 0.22. The answer is not .22.

I need help please. What did i do wrong?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Welcome to PF!

Hi Sealy! Welcome to PF! :smile:
Sealy said:
b) this is what i have trouble on. I started by finding Vy using (6.13)(tan -18.9486)=Vy and i got: Vy=-2.10 I then used the formula Vf = Vo + a*t to get time. I got t=-.21 s
Next i used d = volt + 0.5a*t^2 to solve for distance and i got d= .22

Finally i did 0.443-0.22 and i got 0.22. The answer is not .22.

I need help please. What did i do wrong?

(probably a rounding error, but anyway …)

there are three standard https://www.physicsforums.com/library.php?do=view_item&itemid=204" equations …

why not use v2 = u2 + 2as ? :wink:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I tried to redo the problem without rounding until the end and i still got 0.22. I even tried 0.21 and 0.23. I sent a copy of my work and my solution to my teacher today so I'm waiting for her response.

I really think i used the right method.