For our physics class we have to make a tennis ball launcher and we are also responsible for doing calculations to predict the distance our launcher will be able to launch the tennis ball.
I have done the calculations here and can be seen in this PDF file:
http://imusion.net/backup/yahoo.pdf
The diagram of our launcher can be seen in here:
http://imusion.net/backup/yahoo.jpg
I have looked through it but I know it is wrong. For u = 0.5kx^2 which is the first equation, x is the distance we can stretch the bungee cord which is supposed to be 1.2m and not 1.2-0.955(0.955 being the "slack " length of the cord). The problem is if I use 1.2m for x and follow through with everything else I get a ridiculous number like 500m. Which I know is not right.
Just a short explanation of what else I did for the calcs. After I found the PE of our bungee cord I found the velocity then used projectile motion.
If anyone can look through what I did and see what I did wrong I would appreciate that.
2006-11-24 07:23:55 · 3 answers · asked by Johnathan H 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The thing is ~2000 feet is ridiculous. There is no way possible that our home made launcher will be able to launch a tennis ball remotely close to that distance. Which is what confuses me about my calculations...
2006-11-24 08:42:26 · update #1
Your calculations look pretty good.
Your assesment of what is a ridiculous answer is a bit lacking.
Your cals use a 1.2-.955 = .245m deflection. When you change .245 to 1.2, you increase the energy by (1.2/.245)² = 23.99.
So, with about 24 times as much energy, I would bet without calculating that it will go 500m.......
2006-11-24 07:58:16 · answer #1 · answered by Steve 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think what your trying to do is to check your results by changing your stretch length and see if this would be reasonable. The guy above me pretty much sums up what I believe is your failing too. Because your increasing your stretch length alot your force is going to increase by a factor of 24.
I would stick with what you got and turn that in for your calculations as I believe you have done the problem correctly and don't quite got your mind around what x exactly is.
2006-11-24 08:36:09 · answer #2 · answered by travis R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We could sponsor a Chuck Norris Marathon for the Community and the slogan would be: "Increasing Your Fertility"
2016-03-12 21:54:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋