Projectile Motion (1 Viewer)

Lukybear

Active Member
Joined
May 6, 2008
Messages
1,466
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Find the speed and direction of a particle which , when projected form a point 15m above the horizontal ground, just clears the top of a wall 26.25 m and 30m away.
 

Shikobe

New Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2009
Messages
15
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
x'=Vcos0=V, x=Vt
y''=-g, y'=-gt, y=-1/2gt^2 + 15
sub, t=x/V into y, which gives: y=-1/2g(x^2/V^2)
sub x=30 and y=26.25 into the equation and you should get your answer.

Hope this helps.
 

k02033

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2006
Messages
239
Location
Parramatta
Gender
Male
HSC
2007
There is no unique solution to this problem,

Let T denote the time it takes for the projectile to reach horizontal displacement of 30m.

Let U denote initial speed, @ denote launch angle, a =-10.


Then:

Ucos@*T=30 (1)

Usin@T+1/2*a*T^2=6.25 (2)

put (1) into (2) and make @ the subject you get tan@=1/30*(6.25-1/2*a*T^2), so now we can solve @ in terms of T. And then use (1) to solve U in terms of T. So we can chose T=1,2.. or whatever appropreiate value as long as @ and U are still solvable, (so some values of T are not possible, e.g. T=0 makes U unsolvable)

in short there is no unique solution, since there are projectiles that can just clear that wall at diff times
 
Last edited:

k02033

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2006
Messages
239
Location
Parramatta
Gender
Male
HSC
2007
Its pretty cool how mathematics translates into everyday logic, e.g. T=0 is not possible implies the projectile cant teleport. (Ignoring quantum mechanics of course >.>)
 

Shikobe

New Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2009
Messages
15
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Oh sorry! I thought the particle was projected horizontally lol my bad.

i think the question is saying that at x=30 and y=26.25, it is the maximum height, so...

y=-1/2gt^2 + Vtsin@ + 15, y'=-gt+Vsin@, when y'=0, t=Vsin@/g,
Sub t into y: y=......(sorry getting lazy)
Then you put x=30 and y=26.25 in the equation above and you should get Vsin@=15

Then you know now the time for t at that point. t=Vsin@/g=15/10=3/2.

You can sub the value into x=Vtcos@, and you also know that x=30 at that time so...

30=3/2Vcos@, therefore Vcos@=20.

you divide y' and x' you get: tan@=15/20, @=36*52*

and V=sqrt(20^2+15^2)=25m/s
 

hscishard

Active Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
2,033
Location
study room...maybe
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
Its pretty cool how mathematics translates into everyday logic, e.g. T=0 is not possible implies the projectile cant teleport. (Ignoring quantum mechanics of course >.>)
Lol like a particle moving x=1/t-1
Flys out of the universe and comes back down to the ground. (well hovers on the ground)
 

mirakon

nigga
Joined
Sep 18, 2009
Messages
4,222
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
Use equation of path

y= xtan theta + gx^2/(V^2cos^2 theta) + 15 (note: I added 15 as the particle is shot from 15m high)

where theta is angle of launch
V is launch speed
g is acceleration due to gravity.

sub the height of wall as y and distance away it is as x and then solve for theta
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top