Slingshot Physics: Calculating Projectile Speed from a Building's Height

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In summary, the conversation is about a physics problem involving a slingshot firing a pebble from the top of a building at a certain speed and height. The problem asks to find the speed at which the pebble strikes the ground when fired horizontally, vertically straight up, and vertically straight down. The conversation also suggests using equations of motion to solve the problem.
  • #1
Mctwist
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This one has me stuck, any help would be greately appreciated, cheers, mac


A slingshot fires a pebble from the top of a building at a speed of 14.0m/s. The building is 31.0m tall. Ignoring air resistance, find the speed with which the pebble strikes the ground when the pebble is fired (a) horizontally, (b) vertically straight up, (c) vertically straight down.
 
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  • #2
You'll need the y-component of your initial velocities. What are they for each of those 3 scenerios?

Start with that and see how far you get.
 
  • #3
haha do ur physics homework urself, or dr bao will get u :@:@ haha only kiddin mate, u worked out any of the answers yet,
thanks dilo
 
  • #4
Start with the good old-fashioned equations of motion in the x- and y-directions:

[tex]x=x_0+v_xt[/tex]

[tex]y=y_0+v_yt-\frac{1}{2}gt^2[/tex]

[tex]v_y=v_{y0}-gt[/tex]
 

FAQ: Slingshot Physics: Calculating Projectile Speed from a Building's Height

What is the slingshot question?

The slingshot question is a thought experiment that asks what would happen if a person traveled back in time and gave a modern technology to someone living in the past. It is often used to explore the consequences and implications of time travel.

Who came up with the slingshot question?

The slingshot question was first introduced by science fiction writer Larry Niven in his 1971 short story "The Theory and Practice of Time Travel." However, variations of the question have been explored by many other authors and scientists.

What is the purpose of the slingshot question?

The purpose of the slingshot question is to challenge our understanding of time travel and its potential effects on the past, present, and future. It also raises ethical and philosophical questions about the consequences of altering the course of history.

Is the slingshot question possible in real life?

As of now, time travel is not possible according to our current understanding of physics. However, the slingshot question serves as a thought experiment to explore the hypothetical consequences of time travel and its implications on our understanding of the universe.

Are there any real-life examples of the slingshot question?

While there are no known instances of someone traveling back in time and giving modern technology to people in the past, there have been similar situations in science fiction and alternate history stories. For example, in the TV show "Doctor Who," the main character often uses time travel to change the course of history for the better.

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