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# A Projectile Proof

1) A boy throws a stone to a building a horizontal distance x away through a window of height h above the launching point. The initial (launching) speed is v. "a" is the angle of the initial velocity with the horizontal. Using the projectile motion equations, prove that:

(tan a)^{2} - (2v^{2} / gx) (tan a) + [1 + (2 v^{2} h / g x^{2}) ] = 0, where g=9.8 m/s^{2}.

2) By solving for tan a in the above equation, find a condition for h such that there will be only 1 angle which will allow the stone to hit the window.

Note by Panshul Rastogi
1 year, 11 months ago

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i m now posting the proof of this....

Angle of velocity to horizontal = a Split velocity into Vx and Vy (velocity along x and y lines respectively). From basic pythag - V^2 = Vx^2 + Vy^2 Also, Vy/Vx = tan(a)

Projectile equations: x = Vx t y = Vy t - 1/2 g t^2

So h = Vy T - 1/2 g T^2 where T = time to reach height h

At this same time, x = Vx T

So T = x / Vx = x tan(a) / Vy

Substitute that into the equation for h: h = Vy x tan(a) / Vy - 1/2 g (x tan(a) / Vy)^2

We can simplify to: h = x tan(a) - 1/2 g (x tan(a) / Vy)^2

Now we also know that Vy = V sin(a)

So: h = x tan(a) - 1/2 g x^2 tan(a)^2 / (V^2 sin(a)^2)

tan(a)^2 / sin(a)^2 = 1/cos(a)^2 = sec(a)^2 sec(a)^2 = 1 - tan(a)^2

So, substituting all that in, we get:

h = x tan(a) - g x^2 / 2 V^2

This then reduces, eventually to the equation you're trying to prove.

For the second part... Simplify the expressions in the above equation to something like: Z^2 - pZ + (1+hp) = 0 where Z = tan(a) and p = 2 V^2 / gx^2

Solving for Z using the [-b +/- sqrt(b^2 - 4ac)]/2a will only give one result where b^2 - 4ac = 0

In this instance, b = p, a = 1 and c = (1+hp).

So b^2 - 4ac = p^2 - 4 - 4hp

Solve to zero... - is there any value of h which will allow that equation to equal zero? Remember that p is 2V^2/gx^2, so any condition of h that will satisfy this equation = 0 will most likely be related to V and x....

So... merely by rearranging it you get h = (p^2 - 4) / 4p · 1 year, 11 months ago

Where did you find this question ? Are you sure this is correct ? · 1 year, 11 months ago

yes.. · 1 year, 11 months ago

Panshul please use latex code · 1 year, 11 months ago

wat is dat??? · 1 year, 11 months ago

See this · 1 year, 11 months ago

$${ x }^{ y }\frac { \sin { \left( a \right) } }{ x }$$ this · 1 year, 11 months ago

$$this$$ · 1 year, 11 months ago

i dont know how to use it... :( · 1 year, 11 months ago