A particle is projected from the origin (0,0) in the xy plane at angle of 37o with the x axis with a speed of 10 ms1, its acceleration being (5ˆi+10ˆj) ms2. What is the speed of the particle when the x-coordinate is again zero?

Answer given in the book is 22 ms1.

Please explain with steps.

4 Answers
Jun 11, 2017

39ms

Explanation:

We can split this problem up into x- and y-components.

We can find the components of the initial velocity using the equation

v0x=v0cosα

for x, and

v0y=v0sinα

for y. The initial velocity components are thus

v0x=(10ms)cos(37o)=7.99ms

v0y=(10ms)sin(37o)=6.02ms

We're given that the equations for the components of acceleration are

ax=5ms2

ay=10ms2

Using the initial velocity components, and integrating these acceleration equations, we have for the velocity equations

vx=7.99ms(5ms2)t

vy=6.02ms+(10ms2)t

Integrating these equations, the position equations are

x=(7.99ms)t12(5ms2)t2

y=(6.02ms)t+12(10ms2)t2

We must find the time when x=0, so

x=(7.99ms)t12(5ms2)t2

t=3.19 s

Using this time, we can find the components of the velocity by

vx=7.99ms(5ms2)(3.19s)=7.99ms

vy=6.02ms+(10ms2)(3.19s)=38.0ms

The magnitude of the velocity (the speed) is thus

v=(7.99ms)2+(38.0ms)2=39ms

rounded to 2 significant figures, the amount given in the problem.

Correct me if I made a mistake, but I think this answer should be correct.

Jun 11, 2017

v=v2ˆi+v2ˆj=(8)2+382=39 ms1

See the detailed explanation and working below.

Explanation:

(the units given are a bit odd, in that they mix x and y with ˆi and ˆj, but remember that ˆi is a vector in the x direction and ˆj a vector in the y direction and it's OK)

So our object is projected from the origin into the first quadrant - top right side of the Cartesian plane, at 37o to the x-axis and 10 ms1. It has an acceleration upward (the positive coefficient of ˆj) and to the left (the negative coefficient of ˆi, so it is going to move upward and curve back to the left, eventually crossing the y-axis (the line x=0) again.

This is a different picture from our usual projectile motion problems, because the acceleration is usually provided by gravity and is downward, but it's still just a projectile motion problem, with the exception that there are accelerations in both directions, not just one. We don't know, or need to know, the mass of the particle, because gravity is not involved. We are told its acceleration.

The components of the initial velocity will be given by uˆi=10cos37o=8.0 ms1 and uˆj=10sin37o=6.0 ms1.

We can consider each dimension independently. The position in the x direction will reach a maximum then return to x=0. The velocity will go to zero in the x direction at that maximum displacement, at half the time before the particle returns to x=0.

v=u+at

t=vˆiuˆiaˆi=085=1.6 s

So the total time will be 3.2 s.

The final velocity in the x direction, vˆi, will be:

vˆi=uˆi+aˆit=8+(5)3.2=8 ms1

The final velocity in the y direction, vˆj, will be:

vˆj=uˆj+aˆjt=6+(10)3.2=38 ms1

The magnitude of the final velocity will be given by:

v=v2ˆi+v2ˆj=(8)2+382=39 ms1

This is not the answer given in the question, but other answerers get the same, so I assume the textbook is incorrect.

Jun 12, 2017

I made my own attempt at this and got 39 m/s without gravity in the original coordinates.

I think the book forgot the 12 in front of the acceleration in using the 2D kinematics equations.


DISCLAIMER: LONG ANSWER!

Notice how if you invert the coordinate axes, i.e. reflect over y=x, you get a normal scenario, except with a nonzero horizontal acceleration (after the inversion).

GIVEN DATA IN NEW COORDINATES

We will do that, and obtain:

vi=10 m/s
ax=10 m/s2
ay=5 m/s2
xi=0 m
yi=0 m
θ=9037=53 with respect to (w.r.t) the new x axis

Instead of solving for when x=0, we now solve for when we cross the x axis again.

DERIVATION OF KINEMATICS EQUATIONS

Integrate the acceleration w.r.t. time:

vfx=axdt=axt+vix (1)

vfy=aydt=ayt+viy (2)

Integrate one more time w.r.t time:

xf=axt+vixdt=12axt2+vixt (3)

yf=ayt+viydt=12ayt2+viyt (4)

since (xi,yi)=(0,0).

SOLVING FOR THE TIME OF FLIGHT

Now, using (4), solve for the time when we cross the x axis, i.e. when yf=0. Cross out the trivial t=0 to get:

12ayt+viy=0

t=2viyay

=210 m/ssin(53)5 m/s2

= 3.195 s

VELOCITY COMPONENTS

This means from (1) and (2), we can solve for the final velocity components:

vfx=(10 m/s2)(3.195 s)+10 m/scos(53)

== "37.96 m/s"37.96 m/s

vecv_(fy) = (-"5 m/s"^2)("3.195 s") + "10 m/s" cdot sin(53^@)vfy=(5 m/s2)(3.195 s)+10 m/ssin(53)

== -"7.986 m/s"7.986 m/s

FINAL VELOCITY

The final velocity I get is:

color(blue)(vecv_f) = sqrt((37.96)^2 + (-7.986)^2)vf=(37.96)2+(7.986)2

== color(blue)("39 m/s") ne 2239 m/s22


ERROR IN THE BOOK!

Interestingly enough, if we forgot the 1/212 in front of the kinematics equations we derived...

=> t = -(color(red)(1)vecv_(iy))/(veca_y)t=1viyay

= -(color(red)(1)cdot"10 m/s" cdot sin(53^@))/(-"5 m/s"^2)=110 m/ssin(53)5 m/s2

== "1.597 s"1.597 s

And we would have gotten:

vecv_(fx) = ("10 m/s"^2)("1.597 s") + "10 m/s" cdot cos(53^@)vfx=(10 m/s2)(1.597 s)+10 m/scos(53)

== "21.991 m/s"21.991 m/s

vecv_(fy) = (-"5 m/s"^2)("1.597 s") + "10 m/s" cdot sin(53^@)vfy=(5 m/s2)(1.597 s)+10 m/ssin(53)

== -1.38 xx 10^(-31)1.38×1031 "m/s" ~~ 0m/s0

The final velocity I get would then be:

color(blue)(vecv_f) ~~ vecv_(fx)vfvfx

== color(blue)("22 m/s")22 m/s

So yes, I think the book has an error...

Jun 12, 2017

The xx and yy direction being orthogonal to each other can be treated independently. From the expression for acceleration we see that it is a constant acceleration in both axes.

Movement along xx axis

u_x=10cos 37ux=10cos37
a_x=-5ms^-2ax=5ms2
Using the kinematic expression
s=s_0+ut+1/2at^2s=s0+ut+12at2
we get
x=u_xt+1/2a_xt^2x=uxt+12axt2
x=(10cos 37)t-5/2t^2x=(10cos37)t52t2
Using the given condition we get
0=(10cos 37)t-5/2t^20=(10cos37)t52t2
Ignoring root t=0t=0 being initial condition we get
t_(x=0)=2/5xx(10cos 37)approx 3.19stx=0=25×(10cos37)3.19s

Now using the kinematic expression
v_x=u_x+atvx=ux+at .....(1)
we get for above value of tt
v_x=10cos 37+(-5)xx3.19approx-8ms^-1vx=10cos37+(5)×3.198ms1

Movement along yy-axis

u_y = 10sin 37uy=10sin37
a_y = 10ms^-2ay=10ms2

using (1) we get at the requited tt
v_y=10sin 37+10xx3.19vy=10sin37+10×3.19
=>v_y=6.02+16approx 38ms^-1vy=6.02+1638ms1

Speed
|v|_(x=0)=sqrt(v_x^2+v_y^2)|v|x=0=v2x+v2y
|v|_(x=0)=sqrt(38^2+(-8)^2)|v|x=0=382+(8)2

=>|v|_(x=0)=38.8ms^-1|v|x=0=38.8ms1

Hope this helps.