Chapter 3: Problem 55
(III) A person stands at the base of a hill that is a straight incline making an angle \(\phi\) with the horizontal (Fig. 48). For a given initial spced \(v_{0},\) at what angle \(\theta\) (to the horizontal) should objects be thrown so that the distance \(d\) they land up the hill is as large as possible?
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Setting up the Problem
Analyzing the Motion
Equations of Motion
Solving for Time of Flight
Expression for Distance
Optimizing the Distance
Simplifying the Solution
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Incline Angle
In our problem, the incline angle determines how curved or steep the hill is compared to a flat surface.
This impacts how far a thrown object will land on the hill. Understanding incline angles helps us see why objects on hills behave differently compared to flat ground.
- Incline angle \( \phi \) is constant for a given problem.
- This angle affects horizontal and vertical distances because it alters the effective gravitational pull on the projectile.
- Knowing \( \phi \) helps us understand better angle adjustments for optimizing thrown distances.
Initial Velocity Decomposition
This decomposition helps us understand how fast an object starts moving sideways and upwards when launched.
Each component plays a crucial role in determining how far and high the object will go.
- Horizontal component: \( v_{0x} = v_0 \cos \theta \)
- Vertical component: \( v_{0y} = v_0 \sin \theta \)
Equations of Motion
These equations are essential in predicting where and when the projectile will land.
- Horizontal Motion: \( x = v_{0x} t \)
- Vertical Motion: \( y = v_{0y} t - \frac{1}{2}gt^2 \)
This relationship is critical to solve for the time of flight and the exact landing spot on the hill.
Optimization of Range
For inclined surfaces, this is a bit more intricate because of the angle \( \phi \) of inclination.
The objective is to maximize distance \( d \) up the hill. To do this, we take mathematical steps:
- Find the time of flight using motion equations.
- Develop an expression for distance \( d \) on the incline.
- Use calculus to find the angle \( \theta \) that gives the largest \( d \) by setting the derivative of \( d \) with respect to \( \theta \) to zero.