Finding distance an object is displaced

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In summary, in order to determine the distance a person will travel after jumping off a swing with a rope length of 8 feet, an angle of 30 degrees, and a height of 2 feet, one must first calculate the time the person is in the air and then use a kinematics equation to find the distance. The time in the air is dependent on the vertical height above the ground, while the horizontal distance depends on the distance from the swing at equilibrium.
  • #1
PhysicStuden7
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Homework Statement



A person is swinging on a swing with a rope length of 8 feet. The person swings backwards at an angle of 30 degrees. The swing is elevated off the ground 2 feet, and the mass of the person is 100kg. If the person swings forward and jumps off, what distance will the person travel?

h=2 feet
L=8 feet
Theta= 30 degrees
Mass= 100 kg
D= ?

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


 
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  • #2
Find how long the person is in the air for first, and then use one of the basic kinematics equations to determine how far the person travels. It'll help to know that the time is only dependent on how far up vertically the person is from the ground, and the distance from the start point depends only on how far horizontally the person is from the swing (at equilibrium).
 

FAQ: Finding distance an object is displaced

How do you calculate the displacement of an object?

The displacement of an object can be calculated by subtracting the initial position from the final position. This can be represented as d = xf - xi, where d is the displacement, xf is the final position, and xi is the initial position.

What is the difference between displacement and distance travelled?

Displacement refers to the straight-line distance between the initial and final position of an object, while distance travelled refers to the total path length covered by the object. For example, if an object moves 5 meters north and 3 meters east, its displacement would be 5 meters northeast, but its distance travelled would be 8 meters.

3. Can displacement be negative?

Yes, displacement can be negative. A negative displacement means that the object has moved in the opposite direction of the positive direction used to measure displacement. For example, if an object moves 5 meters to the left, its displacement would be -5 meters.

4. How does time affect the calculation of displacement?

Time is an important factor in calculating displacement. The longer the time interval, the greater the displacement will be. This is because the object has had more time to travel and cover a greater distance. Additionally, the direction of displacement may also change if the object changes direction during the time interval.

5. What units are used to measure displacement?

Displacement is typically measured in units of length, such as meters, centimeters, or kilometers. The unit used will depend on the scale of the object and the precision of the measurement. In some cases, displacement may also be measured in units of time, such as seconds or minutes, if the object is moving at a constant speed.

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