Question

Sign of g in these equations

Asked by: keishuuamuro

Hi,
I'm trying to come up with an equation to describe that relates the distance a ball is dropped from a height of H that hits a plate at a 45 degree angle and then goes off on a parabolic path to a distance of R (basically Height between ball and bounce plate vs. range).  I'm a little confused for what the sign of g (the ball's acceleration) would be as the ball goes through its motion.  I figured that when its dropped to hit the plate the sign is negative, but when its in the parabolic path is it positive?  

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Asked On
2008-09-22 at 03:27:44ID23750891
Topic

Math & Science

Participating Experts
4
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Comments
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Answers

 

by: gpiero74Posted on 2008-09-22 at 04:00:22ID: 22538847

you have to assume the g acceleration always with the same sign.
It always give an acceleration versus the ground. the speed of you ball increase always going to the ground and decrease when it start to go to the sky!

 

by: ozoPosted on 2008-09-22 at 05:12:06ID: 22539226

g does not change
velocity changes, but g does not.

 

by: keishuuamuroPosted on 2008-09-22 at 05:15:52ID: 22539255

Its just that for my equation I came up with the ball having a velocity of sqrt(2(-9.8)*(height between plate and where ball dropped) and the time it takes to reach the particular range as being sqrt((2*distance between bounce plate and the ground)/9.8).  I assumed that the bounce plate was the "origin" so the first height in the velocity equation would be positive and the second height in the time equation in the time equation would be negative.  If I make both 9.8s negative and then multiply v*t the quantity under the sqrt is negative.  So I'm really confused about sign change.  Please help!

 

by: gpiero74Posted on 2008-09-22 at 05:29:59ID: 22539349

you have to put g positive!!  try in this way and post the solutions of your equation

 

by: ozoPosted on 2008-09-22 at 05:42:55ID: 22539428

which direction is positive velocity?

 

by: ozoPosted on 2008-09-22 at 05:48:55ID: 22539460

which direction is positive vertical velocity?

Does the ball drop vertically onto 45 degree plate?
Then it would have 0 vertical velocity after the bounce?
Or is the plate at a 22.5 degree angle so that the ball bounces at a 45 degree angle?
 

 

by: ozoPosted on 2008-09-22 at 05:56:35ID: 22539504

Is this in reference to  http:/Q_23746570.html ?
If so, which direction is positive H and h?
If you used different signs for H and h, that would cause g to change signs too.

 

by: keishuuamuroPosted on 2008-09-22 at 06:32:18ID: 22539767

What is exactly the problem with the signs in my equation then?

 

by: d-glitchPosted on 2008-09-22 at 08:39:38ID: 22541004

For the first part:     mgH =   ½mv²   where v is velocity just before the bounce

=============================================
For the second part:   ½gt² = h    ==>  t = sqrt(2h/g)  

                                                      ==>  v = R/t  =  R*sqrt(g/2h)

                                                      ==>  E = ½mR²g/2h


where t is the time between the the bounce and the ground
           v is the velocity just after the bounce
           E is kinetic energy just after the bounce

 

by: deightonPosted on 2008-09-23 at 04:46:29ID: 22548225

if you're using V^2 = U^2 + 2gs  (with U = 0 here) , then you need to have g positive if s is positive, if you were 100m from a finish line at the start of a race, and you accelerated at -1m/s/s then you would never reach the finish line, hence the equation having no real solution.

If the point where the ball is dropped is +100 and the point where it hits is 0, then you have covered a distance of -100m and you need a negative g

so, if going up is positive, then g is negative
if going down is positive then g is positive

so I think you actual need

sqrt(2(-9.8)*(-1 * height between plate and where ball dropped)

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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