- #1
chiamocha
- 5
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Freefall "catching" problem
I have been having trouble understanding this physics problem and am so confused as to how I would even start.
Two friends are playing "catch" on a level playing field. At t=0 the are at x = 0. At t = 0, the catcher is run-in in the positive x direction, with constant speed v0. At a later time t, the thrower tosses the all from ground level, with the ball's horizontal motion the in +x direction. The initial peed of the ball is 4v0. The initial velocity of the ball makes an angle (theta) with the x axis. The catcher catches the ball at time tc, just as it reaches the ground.
Solve for the time tc when the ball reaches the ground. Express your answer in terms of v0, (theta) t1, g(as magnitude of acceleration due to gravity), and/or other constants.
Solve for time t1 at which the ball must be thrown in rode to be caught by the catcher.
I would really like help on how I would first begin these two problems, then hopefully I can figure it out from there but, I am not sure how I would use an equation to find a time when the ball reaches the ground, wouldn't that just be when t=0 again? And I don't know how I would go about finding how I would know when the catcher could catch the ball. Any starting help would be greatly appreciated.
Homework Statement
I have been having trouble understanding this physics problem and am so confused as to how I would even start.
Two friends are playing "catch" on a level playing field. At t=0 the are at x = 0. At t = 0, the catcher is run-in in the positive x direction, with constant speed v0. At a later time t, the thrower tosses the all from ground level, with the ball's horizontal motion the in +x direction. The initial peed of the ball is 4v0. The initial velocity of the ball makes an angle (theta) with the x axis. The catcher catches the ball at time tc, just as it reaches the ground.
Solve for the time tc when the ball reaches the ground. Express your answer in terms of v0, (theta) t1, g(as magnitude of acceleration due to gravity), and/or other constants.
Solve for time t1 at which the ball must be thrown in rode to be caught by the catcher.
I would really like help on how I would first begin these two problems, then hopefully I can figure it out from there but, I am not sure how I would use an equation to find a time when the ball reaches the ground, wouldn't that just be when t=0 again? And I don't know how I would go about finding how I would know when the catcher could catch the ball. Any starting help would be greatly appreciated.