Question

A ball of mass m is thrown into the air in a 45° direction of the horizon, after 3 seconds the ball is seen in a direction 30° from the horizon. Ignoring the friction of the air, find the initial velocity v of the ball.

Answer 1

Answer:

Velocity (magnitude) is 98.37 m/s

Explanation:

We use the vertical component of the initial velocity, which is:

$v_{0y}=v_0*sin(45)=\frac{\sqrt{2} }{2}v_0$

Using kinematics expression of vertical velocity (in y direction) for an accelerated motion (constant acceleration, which is gravity):

$v_{y}=v_{0y}+a*t=\frac{\sqrt{2} }{2}v_0-9.8t$

Now we need to find $v_y$ as a function of $v_0$. We use the horizontal velocity, which is always the same as follow:

$v_x=v_0cos(45\º)=\frac{\sqrt{2} }{2}v_0=v_{t=3}*cos(30\º)$

We know the angle at 3 seconds:

$v_y(t=3)=v_{t=3}*sin(30\º)\\v_{t=3}=\frac{v_y}{sin(30\º)}$

Substitute  $v_{t=3}$ in  $v_x$ and then solve for  $v_y$

$\frac{\sqrt{2} }{2}v_0=\frac{v_y*cos(30\º) }{sin(30\º)} \\v_y=\frac{\sqrt{6} }{6}v_0$

With this expression we go back to the kinematic equation and solve it for initial speed

$\frac{\sqrt{6} }{6} v_0 =\frac{\sqrt{2} }{2}v_0-29.4\\v_0(\frac{\sqrt{6}-3\sqrt{2}}{6} )=-29.4\\v_0=98.37 m/s$