Projectile Motion Problem: Calculating Snowball's Initial Velocity and Horizontal Distance

What are the key steps to solving a two-part projectile motion problem involving a snowball thrown by Juliet at Romeo? The student's question requires solving a two-part projectile motion problem, where the initial velocity is found using vertical motion equations and the horizontal distance is found by considering the time of flight and initial horizontal velocity component.

Projectile motion problems involve analyzing the motion of an object that is projected into the air, such as a snowball thrown by Juliet in this scenario. To solve the problem, we need to break down the motion into its horizontal and vertical components and apply the principles of physics.

Finding the Magnitude of the Initial Velocity

One of the key steps in solving this kind of problem is determining the initial velocity of the snowball. In this case, we are given that Juliet throws the snowball from a height of 7.0 m above the ground at an angle of 20° above the horizontal. We also know that Romeo catches the snowball 1.3 seconds later when it is 1.0 m above the ground.

To find the magnitude of the snowball's initial velocity, we can separate the motion into its vertical and horizontal components. The vertical component is affected by gravity, while the horizontal component remains constant. Using the equations of motion, we can calculate the initial velocity.

Vertical component: h = ut + (1/2)gt^2

Horizontal component: d = ut

By substituting the given values into these equations and solving them simultaneously, we can determine the initial velocity of the snowball. This step is crucial to understanding the complete trajectory of the projectile.

Calculating the Horizontal Distance to Romeo

Once we have found the initial velocity of the snowball, we can proceed to calculate the horizontal distance from the balcony to Romeo when he catches the snowball. Knowing the time of flight and the horizontal velocity component, we can determine this distance.

Horizontal component: d = u * cos(20°) * 1.3

By substituting the initial velocity value and time of flight into this equation, we can find out at what distance horizontally Romeo is from the balcony when he catches the snowball. This step completes the solution to the two-part projectile motion problem.

Overall, solving projectile motion problems involves understanding the principles of motion, breaking down the motion into its components, and applying relevant equations to calculate key values such as initial velocity and horizontal distance. By following these steps, we can successfully analyze and solve complex projectile motion scenarios like the one involving Juliet and Romeo.

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