Why Does My Projectile Motion Calculation Keep Failing?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a student's struggle with projectile motion calculations in a college physics course. The student is tasked with finding the horizontal and vertical components of displacement for a stone catapulted at a specific angle and velocity. They initially used an incorrect formula for vertical displacement, leading to incorrect answers. A forum member suggests the correct equation for vertical motion, which includes the initial velocity and gravitational acceleration. The conversation highlights the challenges of self-teaching complex topics in physics without direct instruction.
TS656577
Messages
62
Reaction score
0
[SOLVED] I'm stuck with college physics

My college professor decided he didn't want to teach this chapter on Motion in 2D and 3D so he left us to teach ourselves. My first question is this
A stone is catapulted at time t = 0, with an initial velocity of magnitude 19.6 m/s and at an angle of 37.2° above the horizontal. What are the magnitudes of the (a) horizontal and (b) vertical components of its displacement from the catapult site at t = 1.11 s? Repeat for the (c) horizontal and (d) vertical components at t = 1.77 s.
I got A and C and to find B and D, i thought I would use the equation y=vsin(x)t - (-4.9 t^2). I got 19.191 for B and 36.33 for D but both are wrong. (this homework is online) Am I missing something? Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Welcome to the forums,

I haven't worked through your problem, but have you attempted rounding your answers to 3sf?

Also, homework questions should be posted in the Homework forums.
 
Well, I did try rounding, but SF doesn't matter for this online program, and sorry, I didn't know there was a homework section
 

Homework Statement


My college professor decided he didn't want to teach this chapter on Motion in 2D and 3D so he left us to teach ourselves. My first question is this
A stone is catapulted at time t = 0, with an initial velocity of magnitude 19.6 m/s and at an angle of 37.2° above the horizontal. What are the magnitudes of the (a) horizontal and (b) vertical components of its displacement from the catapult site at t = 1.11 s? Repeat for the (c) horizontal and (d) vertical components at t = 1.77 s.


The Attempt at a Solution


I got A and C and to find B and D, i thought I would use the equation y=vsin(x)t - (-4.9 t^2). I got 19.191 for B and 36.33 for D but both are wrong. (this homework is online) Am I missing something? Thanks
 
TS656577 said:
y=vsin(x)t - (-4.9 t^2).

The equation should be;

y = u\sin\theta t + \frac{1}{2}at^2

Where u is your initial velocity and a=-g=-9.81 m/s/s.
 
Last edited:
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanged mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top