Where Should the Coin Be Placed for the Ball to Hit It?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Let It Be
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Marble Motion
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a ball rolling down a ramp and determining where to place a coin so that the ball strikes it upon impact with the ground. The scenario includes a level ramp with specific measurements, including the time taken for the ball to pass through photogates and the height of the ramp above the floor.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relevance of the distance between photogates and the time it takes for the ball to pass through them. Some express confusion about how to use the given measurements and equations to find the solution.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the problem, with participants offering insights into the relationships between horizontal and vertical motion. Some guidance has been provided regarding the use of specific equations, but questions remain about the initial conditions and the application of average velocity.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of projectile motion and the implications of the given time and distance measurements. There is a noted distinction between the time for the ball to travel horizontally and the time it spends in free fall.

Let It Be
Messages
45
Reaction score
0
1. A student finds that it takes .20s for a ball to pass through photogates places 30cm apart on a level ramp. The end of the ramp is 92cm above the floor. Where should a coin be placed so that the ball strikes it directly on impact with the ground?


2. ΔX=ViTf+1/2 ATf^2
v= ΔX/ΔT



3. Tf=.2s
h=92cm (.92m)
I don't understand why the 30cm is there or how to complete the problem.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Let It Be said:
1. A student finds that it takes .20s for a ball to pass through photogates places 30cm apart on a level ramp. The end of the ramp is 92cm above the floor. Where should a coin be placed so that the ball strikes it directly on impact with the ground?


2. ΔX=ViTf+1/2 ATf^2
v= ΔX/ΔT



3. Tf=.2s
h=92cm (.92m)
I don't understand why the 30cm is there or how to complete the problem.


I can't understand the question but you might use 30sm to find radius ...
 
cupid.callin said:
I can't understand the question but you might use 30sm to find radius ...

It's a projectile motion problem...you don't use radius ever.
 
attachment.php?attachmentid=42328&stc=1&d=1325300657.gif
 

Attachments

  • Fig1.gif
    Fig1.gif
    2.2 KB · Views: 1,063
gneill said:
attachment.php?attachmentid=42328&stc=1&d=1325300657.gif

Yep, that's the picture I have! However, I have NO CLUE where to start it. Where does the 30cm come into play? I'm thinking find the time, then average velocity, to then both put into the ΔX=blah blah blah equation
 
Let It Be said:
Yep, that's the picture I have! However, I have NO CLUE where to start it. Where does the 30cm come into play? I'm thinking find the time, then average velocity, to then both put into the ΔX=blah blah blah equation

You're GIVEN the time for it to pass between the photogates. No need to find it. If you know the time for the projectile to travel the 30 cm between the gates, what's its speed?

If you then have its speed, what are the formulas that describe its trajectory when it leaves the edge of the level surface?
 
gneill said:
You're GIVEN the time for it to pass between the photogates. No need to find it. If you know the time for the projectile to travel the 30 cm between the gates, what's its speed?

If you then have its speed, what are the formulas that describe its trajectory when it leaves the edge of the level surface?

This is how I did the problem-
H=1/2gt^2
.92m=1/2(9.8)t^2
T=.43s

V=ΔX/ΔT
30cm/.2s
V=1.5m

Then I plugged in both answers into:
ΔX=ViTf+1/2ATf^2
ΔX=1.5(.43)+1/2(0)tf^2
ΔX=.65m

Does this look right?
 
Let It Be said:
It's a projectile motion problem...you don't use radius ever.

woops ... I didnt read whole topic, I read rolling and thought and ...
 
Let It Be said:
This is how I did the problem-
H=1/2gt^2
.92m=1/2(9.8)t^2
T=.43s

V=ΔX/ΔT
30cm/.2s
V=1.5m

Then I plugged in both answers into:
ΔX=ViTf+1/2ATf^2
ΔX=1.5(.43)+1/2(0)tf^2
ΔX=.65m

Does this look right?

Yep its right ... sorry for my above confusing post ... this problem was not in the language i am used to ...
 
  • #10
No worries!
 
  • #11
Let It Be said:
This is how I did the problem-
H=1/2gt^2
.92m=1/2(9.8)t^2
T=.43s

V=ΔX/ΔT
30cm/.2s
V=1.5m /sec

Then I plugged in both answers into:
ΔX=ViTf+1/2ATf^2
ΔX=1.5(.43)+1/2(0)tf^2
ΔX=.65m

Does this look right?

Your method looks right.
 
  • #12
Let It Be said:
This is how I did the problem-
H=1/2gt^2
.92m=1/2(9.8)t^2
T=.43s

V=ΔX/ΔT
30cm/.2s
V=1.5m

Then I plugged in both answers into:
ΔX=ViTf+1/2ATf^2
ΔX=1.5(.43)+1/2(0)tf^2
ΔX=.65m

Does this look right?

Couple questions on the problem still-
1)First, why did I have the use the H=1/2gt^2 equation to get T=.43s? I think it has something to do with the horizontal and vertical relationship to each other? But if the problem gives me .2s already-what is that for?

2) Second, I used the average velocity equation, but how can the average velocity switch to being the Vi in the ΔX=ViTf+1/2ATf^2 equation? How does that work?
 
  • #13
Let It Be said:
Couple questions on the problem still-
1)First, why did I have the use the H=1/2gt^2 equation to get T=.43s? I think it has something to do with the horizontal and vertical relationship to each other? But if the problem gives me .2s already-what is that for?

2) Second, I used the average velocity equation, but how can the average velocity switch to being the Vi in the ΔX=ViTf+1/2ATf^2 equation? How does that work?

1)

when marble falls from table, in Y direction there is no initial velocity (right?) ... so for eqn:
y = uyt + 0.5 g t2 .. uy turns out to be 0
 
  • #14
Let It Be said:
Couple questions on the problem still-
1)First, why did I have the use the H=1/2gt^2 equation to get T=.43s? I think it has something to do with the horizontal and vertical relationship to each other? But if the problem gives me .2s already-what is that for?
The 0.2 sec is used to calculate the speed of the ball before it starts falling. The 0.43 sec is the time it spends in midair. While it's free-falling, it also continues to move horizontally away from the table.

2) Second, I used the average velocity equation, but how can the average velocity switch to being the Vi in the ΔX=ViTf+1/2ATf^2 equation? How does that work?
The initial speed of the ball was calculated on a level surface. What is the value of the horizontal component of gravity acting to speed up the ball over this path?
 

Similar threads

Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
7K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
6K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K