A physics book slides off a horizontal tabletop with a speed of 1.10 m/s. It strikes the floor in 0.480 s. Ignore air resistance. Find the height of the tabletop above the floor.
Table of contents
- 0. Math Review31m
- 1. Intro to Physics Units1h 29m
- 2. 1D Motion / Kinematics3h 56m
- Vectors, Scalars, & Displacement13m
- Average Velocity32m
- Intro to Acceleration7m
- Position-Time Graphs & Velocity26m
- Conceptual Problems with Position-Time Graphs22m
- Velocity-Time Graphs & Acceleration5m
- Calculating Displacement from Velocity-Time Graphs15m
- Conceptual Problems with Velocity-Time Graphs10m
- Calculating Change in Velocity from Acceleration-Time Graphs10m
- Graphing Position, Velocity, and Acceleration Graphs11m
- Kinematics Equations37m
- Vertical Motion and Free Fall19m
- Catch/Overtake Problems23m
- 3. Vectors2h 43m
- Review of Vectors vs. Scalars1m
- Introduction to Vectors7m
- Adding Vectors Graphically22m
- Vector Composition & Decomposition11m
- Adding Vectors by Components13m
- Trig Review24m
- Unit Vectors15m
- Introduction to Dot Product (Scalar Product)12m
- Calculating Dot Product Using Components12m
- Intro to Cross Product (Vector Product)23m
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- 4. 2D Kinematics1h 42m
- 5. Projectile Motion3h 6m
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- Magnetic Field Produced by Loops andSolenoids42m
- Toroidal Solenoids aka Toroids12m
- Biot-Savart Law (Calculus)18m
- Ampere's Law (Calculus)17m
- 30. Induction and Inductance3h 38m
- 31. Alternating Current2h 37m
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- RMS Current and Voltage9m
- Phasors20m
- Resistors in AC Circuits9m
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- 32. Electromagnetic Waves2h 14m
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5. Projectile Motion
Intro to Projectile Motion: Horizontal Launch
Problem 59c
Textbook Question
A cannonball is fired at 100 m/s from a barrel tilted upward at 25°. What is the angle after the cannonball travels 500 m?

1
Step 1: Recognize that the problem involves projectile motion. The angle after the cannonball travels 500 m refers to the angle of the velocity vector relative to the horizontal at that point in its trajectory.
Step 2: Break the initial velocity into horizontal and vertical components using trigonometric functions. The horizontal velocity component is \( v_x = v \cdot \cos(\theta) \), and the vertical velocity component is \( v_y = v \cdot \sin(\theta) \), where \( v = 100 \, \text{m/s} \) and \( \theta = 25^\circ \).
Step 3: Use the kinematic equation for vertical motion to find the vertical velocity \( v_y \) at the point where the cannonball has traveled 500 m horizontally. The equation is \( v_y = v_{y0} - g \cdot t \), where \( v_{y0} \) is the initial vertical velocity, \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity (\( 9.8 \; \text{m/s}^2 \)), and \( t \) is the time of flight. To find \( t \), use the horizontal motion equation \( x = v_x \cdot t \), where \( x = 500 \; \text{m} \).
Step 4: Once \( v_x \) and \( v_y \) are determined, calculate the angle \( \phi \) of the velocity vector relative to the horizontal using the formula \( \tan(\phi) = \frac{v_y}{v_x} \). Solve for \( \phi \) using \( \phi = \arctan\left(\frac{v_y}{v_x}\right) \).
Step 5: Interpret the result. The angle \( \phi \) represents the direction of the cannonball's velocity vector relative to the horizontal after it has traveled 500 m horizontally. This angle will be less than the initial firing angle of 25° due to the effects of gravity on the vertical component of velocity.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Projectile Motion
Projectile motion refers to the motion of an object that is launched into the air and is subject to gravitational forces. It can be analyzed by breaking it into horizontal and vertical components, allowing us to predict the object's trajectory, range, and time of flight. Understanding the principles of projectile motion is essential for solving problems involving objects like cannonballs.
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Initial Velocity Components
The initial velocity of a projectile can be divided into horizontal and vertical components using trigonometric functions. For a cannonball fired at an angle, the horizontal component is found using cosine, while the vertical component is found using sine. These components are crucial for determining the projectile's path and position at any given time.
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Calculating Velocity Components
Angle of Projection
The angle of projection is the angle at which an object is launched relative to the horizontal. It significantly affects the range and height of the projectile. In this problem, understanding how the angle changes as the cannonball travels is key to determining its position after covering a specific distance, such as 500 m.
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