A 1kg mass is launched from the ground into the air at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal and with initial speed 25 ms^-1. Assuming negligible air resistance, how far from the starting point will the mass travel before it hits the ground?
1: Draw a diagram2: Split the velocity into its horizontal and vertical components using trig. Vertical velocity: 25sin(30) Horizontal velocity: 25cos(30)3: Work out forces on the mass to find vertical and horizontal acceleration using Newton's Second Law No air resistance so gravity is the only force Vertical acceleration = mg = 1*9.8 = 9.8 ms-2 Horizontal acceleration = 0 ms-24: Use SUVAT equations with the vertical components of velocity and acceleration to find the time the mass is in the air s=ut+1/2 at2 where s = 0, u= 25sin(30) and a=-9.8ms-2 (negative because working in the oppposite direction to the initial , velocity) t=2.55 s5: Use the time in the air and SUVAT to find the horizontal distance travelled s=ut+1/2 at2 where u=25cos(30), t=2.55s and a=0 s=55.2m
