A physics student stands on a cliff overlooking a lake and decides to throw a softball to her friends in the water below. She throws the softball with a velocity of 23.5 m/s at an angle of 39.5∘ above the horizontal. When the softball leaves her hand, it is 11.5 m above the water. How far does the softball travel horizontally before it hits the water? Neglect any effects of air resistance when calculating the answer.

66.86m

Explanation:

Velocity of ball thrown, u = 23.5 m/s

Initial height of the ball above the water, H = 11.5 m

Angle of projection, θ = 39.5°

Vertical components of veloclty = usinθ

Horizontal components of veloclty = ucosθ

The soft ball hits the water after time 't'

Considering the second equation of motion

S = ut + 1/2at^2 1

But since the ball went through motion under gravity ( free fall ) rather than linear motion, then equation 1 can be rewritten as:

H = ut +/- 1/2gt^2

H = - 11.5m

U = usinθ

θ = 39.5°

a = -g = -9.8m/s^2

- 11.5m = 23.5(sin39.5°)t + 1/2(-9.8)t^2

-11.5m = 23.5(0.6360)t - 4.9t^2

-11.5m = 14.946t - 4.9t^2

4.9t^2 -14.946t-11.5m = 0

Since the ball drifted horizontally

D = (Ucosθ)t

Where θ = 39.5°

U = 23.5m/s t=

Alternatively,

horizontal component of the velocity is 23.5 cos 39.5º = 18.1331 m/s

now how long does it take the ball to raise to a peak and fall to the water.

vertical component of velocity = 23.5 sin 39.5º = 14.947m/s

time to reach peak t = v/g = 11.947/9.8 = 1.5252 sec

peak reached above cliff top is

h = ½gt² = ½(9.8)(1.5252)²

= ½×22.797

= 11.3985m

now the ball has to fall 11.3985+ 11.5 = 22.8985m

time to fall from that height is

t = √(2h/g) = √(2• 22.8986/9.8) = 2.1617 sec

add up the two times to get time it is in the air, 2.1617 + 1.5252 = 3.6869

now haw far does the ball travel horizontally in that time

d = vt = 18.1331 ×3.6869= 66.856m

= 66.86m