Question

A water skier leaves the end of an 8 foot tall ski ramp with a speed of 20 mi/hr and at an angle of 250. He lets go of the tow rope immediately as he leaves the end of the ramp. Determine the maximum height he attains. Determine his velocity and direction of his velocity at that maximum height. Why is one of the components equal to zero at that point? How far does he travel before landing on the water? How long does it take him to land? What is his velocity when he lands? And finally, at what angle does he land?

Answer 1

Answer:

At highest point:

y1 = 10.4 ft

v1 = (26.5*i + 0*j) ft/s

When he lands:

x2 = 31.5 ft (distance he travels)

t2 = 1.19 s

V2 = (26.5*i - 25.9*j) ft/s

a2 = -44.3°

Explanation:

Since he let go of the tow rope upon leaving the ramp he is in free fall from that moment on. In free fall he is affected only by the acceleration of gravity. Gravity has a vertical component only, so the movement will be at constant acceleration in the vertical component and at constant speed in the horizontal component.

20 mi / h = 29.3 ft/s

If the ramp has an angle of 25 degrees, the speed is

v0 = (29.3 * cos(25) * i + 29.3 * sin(25) * j) ft/s

v0 = (26.5*i + 12.4*j) ft/s

I set up the coordinate system with the origin at the base of the ramp under its end, so:

R0 = (0*i + 8*j) ft

The equation for the horizontal position is:

X(t) = X0 + Vx0 * t

The equation for horizontal speed is:

Vx(t) = Vx0

The equation for vertical position is:

Y(t) = Y0 + Vy0 * t + 1/2 * a * t^2

The equation for vertical speed is:

Vy(t) = Vy0 + a * t

In this frame of reference a is the acceleration of gravity and its values is -32.2 ft/s^2.

In the heighest point of the trajectory the vertical speed will be zero because that is the point where it transitions form going upwards (positive vertical speed) to going down (negative vertical speed), and it crosses zero.

0 = Vy0 + a * t1

a * t1 = -Vy0

t1 = -Vy0 / a

t1 = -12.4 / -32.2 = 0.38 s

y1 = y(0.38) = 8 + 12.4 * 0.38 + 1/2 * (-32.2) * (0.38)^2 = 10.4 ft

The velocity at that moment will be:

v1 = (26.5*i + 0*j) ft/s

When he lands in the water his height is zero.

0 = 8 + 12.4 * t2 + 1/2 * (-32.2) * t2^2

-16.1 * t2^2 + 12.4 * t2 + 8 = 0

Solving this equation electronically:

t2 = 1.19 s

Replacing this time on the position equation:

X(1.19) = 26.5 * 1.19 = 31.5 ft

The speed is:

Vx2 = 26.5 ft/s

Vy2 = 12.4 - 32.2 * 1.19 = -25.9 ft/s

V2 = (26.5*i - 25.9*j) ft/s

a2 = arctg(-25.9 / 26.5) = -44.3