What's the best way to solve projectile problems in Mechanics?

Getting a complicated problem of a mass being projected at a weird angle can seem daunting at first but these problems can be solved easily by breaking them down into two simpler problems.Using trigonometry, we can split the magnitude of the velocity into it's horizontal and vertical components which essentially defines what proportion of the speed is travelling in that particular direction. With this done, we can apply the SUVAT equations in these different directions, remembering that acceleration in the horizontal direction will be zero (if there is no air resistance), reducing it to a simple speed = distance/time equation and the acceleration in the vertical direction is +- 9.8 m/s^2 due to gravity. The next useful trick is knowing that the time of travel will be the same for both the horizontal and vertical directions, allowing you to sub in this value to solve for more unknown variables in either direction!

OA
Answered by Olumuyiwa A. Further Mathematics tutor

2041 Views

See similar Further Mathematics A Level tutors

Related Further Mathematics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A child weighing 50kg is pushed down a 2m long slide (u=0.1), angled at 45 degrees from the horizontal, at 5m/s. At what speed does the child reach the bottom of the slide?


Find the general solution for the determinant of a 3x3 martix. When does the inverse of this matrix not exist?


By use of matrices uniquely solve the following system of equations, justifying each step of the calculation: 3x-7y=6, 5y-2x=-3.


Can you show me how to solve first order differential equations using the integrating factor method?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences