Where Will the Ball Hit the Floor of the Railcart?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around solving a physics problem involving a railcart moving at a constant velocity with a ball dropped from its ceiling. The key points include the need to integrate the horizontal velocity to determine horizontal displacement and the use of standard equations for vertical displacement. Participants clarify that the initial position does not need to be calculated, as the focus is on differences in displacement. A common mistake identified was not properly applying the limits of integration when calculating displacement. The conversation highlights the importance of careful mathematical application in solving the problem.
supercali
Messages
53
Reaction score
0
[SOLVED] a question

a railcart moves along a railway at constant velocity v_0 with a ball attached to its ceiling. at t=0 the ball is drooped from the ceiling and at the same time the railcart breaks are pushed creating deceleration such that its velocity is:
v=v_0e^{ -pt}\hat{x} .
h is the distance between the ceiling and the floor.
in which horizontal distance will the ball hit the floor of the railcart. given v_0=70m/sec
h=180m p=0.0185 1/sec g=10m/sec^2
if you can help me understand this and solve it
thanks
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
You will have to integrate the x velocity dt to get the horizontal displacement as a function of time. The vertical displacement is the usual (1/2)*g*t^2. Use that to find t when it hits the floor and put it into the x displacement.
 
clarifications

ok i understood
but when i integrate i have an x_0 is it zero or because the railcart is decelerating i need to find it.
and another question regarding the use of the well known equation x=v_0t+ \frac{at^2}{2} since there is an acceleration shoulnt there be a different accelaration according to the galilean transformation in accelerated systems
 
ok i did as you told me and got after integrating \frac{v_0e^{-pt}}{-p} and the answer wasnt right. i got -3386.25m fot the time 6sec
i think it has to do with the fact that i didnt calculate the x_0 how do i do that
 
Last edited:
supercali said:
ok i did as you told me and got after integrating \frac{v_0e^{-pt}}{-p} and the answer wasnt right. i got -3386.25m fot the time 6sec
i think it has to do with the fact that i didnt calculate the x_0 how do i do that

Your problem is that you can't just plug t=6 into that. You have to put t=6 and t=0 and then subtract them. It's an indefinite integral.
 
supercali said:
ok i understood
but when i integrate i have an x_0 is it zero or because the railcart is decelerating i need to find it.
and another question regarding the use of the well known equation x=v_0t+ \frac{at^2}{2} since there is an acceleration shoulnt there be a different accelaration according to the galilean transformation in accelerated systems

There is no 'x0' to find. The initial value of x doesn't matter. This is all about differences. And there is no need to change frames. You are doing fine solving the problem is this one.
 
**** i don't believe it i made that stupid mistake of not putting a zero in the integral

dude thak you very much
your the best
keep on helping it is the nicest thing ever
 
Back
Top