Calculating the New Angle of Inclination for a Projectile Launcher

In summary, the conversation discusses an experimental setup where a small ball is launched from a corner of an inclined plane at an angle of 70 degrees, resulting in a maximum range of 50cm. The plane later changes to an unknown angle and the same projectile launcher is oriented at 30 degrees to the horizontal line, resulting in the ball landing 1m away. The conversation then discusses how to find the new angle of inclination and suggests drawing a picture and using equations for the motion of the projectile to solve for the unknowns.
  • #1
adivit
1
0
In the experimental setup similar to the one shown during the class demonstration, the small ball is launched from the
corner of inclined plane. When the inclination of the plane is 70deg the maximum range of the projectile is 50cm. Later
the inclination of the plane changes to new unknown angle and the same projectile launcher is oriented at 30 deg to the
horizontal line. The ball lands 1m away from the launcher. Find the new angle of inclination.
How do i do it? i tried everything , i tried finding initial speed of the projectile but i get 2 unknows, etc. any suggestion on what to do?
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF;
1. draw a picture of what is happening.

I take it the "range" is measured along the slope and not horizontally?You work out the equations for the motion in general - then put numbers in.
Lets have the plane inclined at angle ##\phi## to the horizontal and the launcher shoots at angle ##\theta## to the horizontal.

The muzzle-speed of the projectile is the same for both experiments.

In experiment 1 you are given the maximum range of the projectile... what angle of launcher gives the maximum range? (Does the slope of the plane affect this?)

In experiment 2 you are given the range for a specific angle.

2. You can work out an equation for x(t) and y(t) for the projectile, and yp(x) - the equation of height of the plane in the x direction.

3. From there you can find the time of flight (time it takes for the x-y trajetory of the projectile to intersect the line of the plane) and a slew of other equations. At some point you'll have as many equations as you have unknowns... then you can solve it.
 

Related to Calculating the New Angle of Inclination for a Projectile Launcher

What is the formula for calculating the new angle of inclination for a projectile launcher?

The formula for calculating the new angle of inclination for a projectile launcher is: θ = tan-1(h/(d + 0.5*g*t2)), where θ is the new angle of inclination, h is the height of the launcher, d is the horizontal distance to the target, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and t is the time of flight.

Why is it important to calculate the new angle of inclination for a projectile launcher?

Calculating the new angle of inclination for a projectile launcher is important because it allows us to adjust the angle of the launcher in order to accurately hit a target at a desired distance. Without this calculation, the projectile may fall short or overshoot the target.

How does the height of the launcher affect the new angle of inclination?

The height of the launcher directly affects the new angle of inclination. As the height increases, the angle of inclination decreases and vice versa. This is because the higher the launcher, the greater the initial velocity of the projectile, which means it will cover more horizontal distance in the same amount of time.

What factors can affect the accuracy of the calculated new angle of inclination?

There are several factors that can affect the accuracy of the calculated new angle of inclination, such as air resistance, wind speed and direction, and the launch angle itself. It is important to consider these factors and make necessary adjustments to the calculation in order to achieve the desired accuracy.

Is there a maximum angle of inclination for a projectile launcher?

Yes, there is a maximum angle of inclination for a projectile launcher. This angle is 45 degrees, also known as the optimum angle for maximum range. Any angle higher than this will result in a shorter range as the vertical component of the projectile's velocity becomes greater than the horizontal component.

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