Question

A 2.0-kg mass is projected from the edge of the top of a 20-m tall building with a velocity of 24 m/s at some unknown angle above the horizontal. Disregard air resistance and assume the ground is level. What is the kinetic energy of the mass just before it strikes the ground? Answer: 0.97 kJ.

Answer 1

Ox:vₓ=v₀

x=v₀t

Oy:y=h-gt²/2

|vy|=gt

tgα=|vy|/vₓ=gt/v₀=>t=v₀tgα/g

y=0=>h=gt²/2=v₀²tg²α/2g=>tgα=√(2gh/v₀²)=√(2*10*20/24²)=√(400/576)=0.83=>α=tg⁻¹0.83=39°

cosα=vₓ/v=v₀/v=>v=v₀/cosα=24/cos39°=24/0,77=31.16 m/s

Ec=mv²/2=2*31.16²/2=971.47 J=>Ec≈0.97 kJ