Projectile Motion!! (1 Viewer)

kini mini

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I found that the hard questions in this topic were more tricky than difficult to understand, the ones in the Cambridge book are good :).
 

ezzy85

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we havent done this topic yet but the physics books seem to explain it well, if youre having trouble understanfing.
 

CHUDYMASTER

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Hmm yes if you don't do physics it can be hard to understand.

My suggestion is that you read all the derivations and all the stuff in the book. Most of the questions are regurgitations of those examples which are provided in the books.

Just remember that your foundations are : y(doubledot)= vertical acceleration = gravity = -10 (or -9.8) m/s^2 and x(doubledot) = horizontal acceleration but since horizontal VELOCITY is always constant in the case of throwing a projectile (in favourable conditions, like a vacuum), the x accleration = 0.

From knowing those 2 starting values, you keep integrating to find range/velocity (x) and height/velocity (y). You'll be given values to find the constants, don't forget those constants in integrating!

Be mindful that you sometimes need to know simple facts to work out certain values, like when you have a maximum height (since it is a parabola), the vertical component (ydot) = 0.

Also think about a situation practically to solve those one line questions like "What angle would you throw the ball at to attain max range?" Sometimes you'll need to show this mathematically, in which case you'll generally use the sine ratio to show that the angle would have to be 45. (again, this can be shown through derivation/use of a formula, R = v^2sin2theta/g where R is the range, g is gravity and v is the projected resultant velocity)

Anyway, point being, you need to practise and repeat a lot if you're not a physics person. :) Hope it helps.
 
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sukiyaki

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yeh its pretty okay, i fidnd its the easiest topic outta the 3unit calculus to the physical world..
but i reckon some questions are just weird .. dont make sense at all
 

m3h_m3h

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projectile motion is pretty straight forward. i find simple harmonic motion alot more difficult.
 

Nick

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i reckon projectiles and simple harmonic are amongst the easiest 3unit topics.. once u understand what everything means its much easier than just memorising formulas
 

elizabethy

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Originally posted by m3h_m3h
projectile motion is pretty straight forward. i find simple harmonic motion alot more difficult.

nah i think SHM is better but projectile isn't bad either!!!:D
 

M-THIS

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do you suggest me (not a physics person) to read a physics text book?

is it heaps more complicated? would it get me more confuseD?

if so what book? any suggestions pls
 

CHUDYMASTER

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Nah, just look some of the basics up on the net.

Understand the fundamentals - that horizontal motion is always non-accelerated and vertical motion is accelerated by gravity. When a projectile goes up, it goes against gravity, making acceleration negative. This is all assuming it's a vaccuous situation.
 

Mathematician

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This should help for ppl needing help in the concepts

To solve Projectile questions u must understand a few concepts.


(1)The velocity throughout the trajectory(the path taken by the projectile which is parabolic) is constantly changing. This trajecotry velocity has Vertical and Horizontal components and the vector sum of these independent components is the trajectory's velocity.
(2) There is only one force acting on a projectile when it is in the air and this force is gravity.
(3)Gravity acts in the vertical direction and therefore there is a acceleration in the vertical direction since forces produce accelerations.
(4) All throughout the Projectile the Horizontal Velocity is constant since there is no force to produce an acceleration in the horizontal direction.
(5) When u throw a ball in the air just before it comes down from up , u notice a stop before the turning point, During this stop the velocity is 0 and it has obviously achieved its maximum height.
Therefore at maximum height the velocity is at rest or 0.
(6) the time T is the same time for the vertical and horizontal components since both are normally talking about the time taken in the air.
(7)when they ask what is the velocity when the object strikes the floor they are not talking about the vertical or horizontal velocitys they are talking about the trajectory's velocity which is the vector sum of the two components and this velcocity is not 0 because they mean the velocity just before it makes contact.


All this should make u a master in projectile motion if u know the math.
 

funkychickie

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hey ur not allowed to use the physics formulas to do any of this stuff r u? cause ppl tell me u r and others r tellin me u arent??? im confused i kinda get the stuff though.. i know it but it sometimes trips me up!!!
 

kini mini

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Originally posted by funkychickie
hey ur not allowed to use the physics formulas to do any of this stuff r u? cause ppl tell me u r and others r tellin me u arent??? im confused i kinda get the stuff though.. i know it but it sometimes trips me up!!!
You must derive everything from the two basic equations, integrating all the way and determining constants. Using the physics formulae automates the integration and is forbidden :). Feel free to use them to check your answers if you can :).
 

Newbie

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i dont get any of it

not even the 2unit applications of calculus

bleh stupid physics people :p

when will they start making us write essays for maths ??! :D
 

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