Velocity & Horizontal Distance of Person on Water Slide

In summary, the appropriate approach for this problem would be to use the conservation of energy equation, T1+V1+U1-2=T2+V2, to find the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the person sliding down the water slide. After finding the velocity, the next step would be to use the equation to determine the maximum flying distance.
  • #1
chunky
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0
a person slides down a water slide that is 61 m long and has a slope angle of 24 degrees and the end is a ramp with a height of 3.66 m with an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal determine the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the person when they just fly away from the ramp and the horizontal distance that they fly.

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  • #2
There are a number of equations that I like to say "have physics in them", as opposed to being merely descriptive. Your equations with physics, in a typical order of presentation, are the following:
  1. Newton's Second Law
  2. Conservation of Energy
  3. Work-Energy Theorem
  4. Conservation of Linear Momentum
  5. Conservation of Angular Momentum

Which of these approaches do you think would be appropriate for this problem?
 
  • #3
I believe the most appropriate approach would be the conservation of energy ie,

T1+V1+U1-2=T2+V2

Then just find all of the relevant pieces of information from the question and subbing them into the equation and solving for the magnitude and direction of the velocity and well as the max flying distance
 
  • #4
I would agree that CoE would be the right approach for the first part of this problem (finding the velocity). Once you do that, however, how would you continue?
 
  • #5


I would first like to clarify that the velocity of the person on the water slide can be calculated using the principles of Newton's laws of motion and the laws of conservation of energy.

To determine the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the person when they fly away from the ramp, we can use the equation for conservation of energy, which states that the initial potential energy (mgh) is equal to the final kinetic energy (1/2mv^2) of the person. In this case, the initial potential energy is equal to the final kinetic energy when the person just flies away from the ramp.

Using this equation, we can calculate the velocity (v) of the person as follows:

mgh = 1/2mv^2

Where m is the mass of the person, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2), h is the height of the ramp (3.66 m), and the angle of the ramp (30 degrees) is the angle between the ramp and the horizontal.

Solving for v, we get:

v = √(2gh)

Substituting the values, we get:

v = √(2*9.8*3.66) = 8.26 m/s

Therefore, the magnitude of the velocity of the person when they fly away from the ramp is 8.26 m/s.

To determine the direction of the velocity, we can use the concept of vector addition. The person's velocity is a combination of two components: the horizontal component and the vertical component. The horizontal component is equal to the initial velocity of the person on the water slide, which is 0 m/s. The vertical component is equal to the velocity calculated above, which is 8.26 m/s.

Using the Pythagorean theorem, we can calculate the magnitude of the velocity vector:

|v| = √(0^2 + 8.26^2) = 8.26 m/s

To determine the direction, we can use the inverse tangent function:

θ = tan^-1(8.26/0) = 90 degrees

Therefore, the direction of the velocity of the person when they fly away from the ramp is 90 degrees, which is straight up.

To calculate the horizontal distance that the person flies, we can use the equation for horizontal distance, which is:

d = v*cosθ*t

Where d is the horizontal
 

FAQ: Velocity & Horizontal Distance of Person on Water Slide

What is the relationship between velocity and horizontal distance on a water slide?

The velocity and horizontal distance on a water slide are directly related. The higher the velocity, the further the person will travel horizontally on the slide.

How do different factors affect the velocity of a person on a water slide?

The velocity of a person on a water slide can be affected by several factors such as the steepness and length of the slide, the weight and body position of the person, and the amount of water and friction on the slide.

Can a person control their velocity and horizontal distance on a water slide?

Yes, to some extent. The person's body position, weight distribution, and use of their hands and feet can affect their velocity and horizontal distance on a water slide. However, external factors such as the slide design and amount of water cannot be controlled by the person.

How is the velocity of a person on a water slide measured?

The velocity of a person on a water slide can be measured using a speedometer or by calculating the time it takes for the person to reach the end of the slide and dividing the distance by the time.

What is the ideal velocity for a safe and enjoyable experience on a water slide?

The ideal velocity for a safe and enjoyable experience on a water slide varies depending on the individual's preferences and the design of the slide. Generally, a velocity between 15-25 miles per hour is considered safe and enjoyable for most people.

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