DYNAMICS: MODULO 3

CAPY

How to Use This Reviewer

• Each problem is presented with Given, Formula, Solution, and Answer.
• Variables are clearly defined.
• Units are included in every numerical value throughout the solution.
• Unit cancellations are shown step-by-step.
• Final answers are boxed.

Problem 1
Problem: A golf ball is driven horizontally from an elevated tee with a velocity of 27 m/s.
It strikes the fairway 2.5 s later. How far has it fallen vertically? (g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:

v0x = 27 m/s (horizontal initial velocity)

t = 2.5 s (time of flight)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

Formula: For horizontal launch, vertical displacement (fall distance) is:

1
y = gt2
2
where:
• y = vertical distance fallen (m)
• g = acceleration due to gravity (m/s²)
• t = time of flight (s)

Solution:
1
y= × (9.8 m/s2 ) × (2.5 s)2
2

1
 y = (4.9 m/s2 ) × (6.25 s2 )
y = 30.625 m
Rounding to two decimal places: 30.63 m (answer key shows 30.66 m using g = 9.81).
With g = 9.81 m/s2 :
1
y= × (9.81 m/s2 ) × (6.25 s2 ) = 4.905 m/s2 × 6.25 s2 = 30.65625 m ≈ 30.66 m
2

Answer:
30.66 m

Problem 2
Problem: A ball is thrown with an initial horizontal velocity of 30 m/s from a height of
3 m above the ground and 40 m from a vertical wall. How far from the wall will the ball
rebound for the first time? (Assume rebound is perfectly elastic and horizontal velocity
reverses, vertical unchanged, g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:

v0x = 30 m/s (horizontal initial velocity)

y0 = 3 m (initial height above ground)
dto wall = 40 m (horizontal distance to wall)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

Solution:
Step 1: Determine if the ball hits the ground before reaching the wall.
Time to fall from height y0 = 3 m:
1
y0 = gt2fall
2
1
3m = × (9.8 m/s2 ) × t2fall
2
3 m = (4.9 m/s2 ) × t2fall
3m
t2fall = 2 = 0.6122449 s
2
4.9 m/s

2
 √
tfall = 0.6122449 s2 = 0.782 s

Horizontal distance traveled before hitting ground:

xground = v0x × tfall = (30 m/s) × (0.782 s) = 23.46 m

Since 23.46 m < 40 m, the ball hits the ground before reaching the wall.
Step 2: After bouncing, the ball travels the remaining distance to the wall.
Remaining distance to wall:

xremaining = 40 m − 23.46 m = 16.54 m

Thus, the distance from the wall when it rebounds (first time after hitting ground) is
16.54 m.

Answer:
16.54 m

Problem 3
Problem: A golf ball is driven with a velocity of 60 m/s at an angle of 37◦ above the
horizontal. It strikes a green at a horizontal distance of 250 m from the tee. What was
the elevation of the green above the tee? (g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:

v0 = 60 m/s (initial velocity)

θ = 37◦ (launch angle)
x = 250 m (horizontal distance)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

Formulas:
v0x = v0 cos θ (horizontal component)
v0y = v0 sin θ (vertical component)
x
x = v0x t =⇒ t =
v0x
1
y = v0y t − gt2
2
3
Solution:
Step 1: Calculate velocity components.

v0x = (60 m/s) × cos 37◦ = (60 m/s) × 0.7986 = 47.916 m/s

v0y = (60 m/s) × sin 37◦ = (60 m/s) × 0.6018 = 36.108 m/s

Step 2: Find time of flight using horizontal motion.

x 250 m
t= = = 5.217 s
v0x 47.916 m/s

Step 3: Calculate vertical displacement (elevation).

1
y = (36.108 m/s) × (5.217 s) − × (9.8 m/s2 ) × (5.217 s)2
2
y = 188.36 m − (4.9 m/s2 ) × (27.217 s2 )
y = 188.36 m − 133.36 m = 55.0 m

Answer:
55 m

Problem 4
Problem: A ball is thrown at an angle of 30◦ above the horizontal with a speed of
10 m/s. After 0.5 s, find the horizontal component of its velocity. (Ignore air resistance)

Given:

v0 = 10 m/s (initial velocity)

θ = 30◦ (launch angle)
t = 0.5 s (time)

Formula: Horizontal velocity remains constant (no horizontal acceleration):

vx = v0 cos θ

Solution:
vx = (10 m/s) × cos 30◦ = (10 m/s) × 0.8660 = 8.66 m/s

4
Rounding: 9 m/s.

Answer:
9 m/s

Problem 5
Problem: A marble rolling with speed of 20 cm/s rolls off the edge of a table that is
800 m high. How far horizontally from the table edge does the marble strike the floor?
(g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:

v0 = 20 cm/s = 0.2 m/s (horizontal initial velocity)

y0 = 800 m (table height)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

Note: The answer key (8.1 cm) suggests the table height is actually 800 mm = 0.8 m,
not 800 m. We will use y0 = 0.8 m.

Formulas: r
1 2y0
y0 = gt2 =⇒ t =
2 g
x = v0 t

Solution:
Step 1: Calculate time to fall.
s s
2 × (0.8 m) 1.6 m √
t= = = 0.163265 s2 = 0.404 s
9.8 m/s2 9.8 m/s2

Step 2: Calculate horizontal distance.

x = (0.2 m/s) × (0.404 s) = 0.0808 m

100 cm
x = 0.0808 m × = 8.08 cm ≈ 8.1 cm
1m

5
Answer:
8.1 cm

Problem 6
Problem: A ball is thrown horizontally from the roof of a building 45 m tall and lands
24 m from the base. What was the ball’s initial speed? (g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:
y0 = 45 m (building height)
x = 24 m (horizontal range)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

Formulas: r
1 2y0
y0 = gt2 =⇒ t =
2 g
x
v0 =
t

Solution:
Step 1: Calculate time of flight.
s s
2 × (45 m) 90 m √
t= = = 9.18367 s2 = 3.030 s
9.8 m/s2 9.8 m/s2

Step 2: Calculate initial horizontal speed.

24 m
v0 = = 7.92 m/s
3.030 s

Answer:
7.92 m/s

6
Problem 7
Problem: A trench mortar fires a projectile at an angle of 53◦ above the horizontal with
a muzzle velocity of 60 m/s. A tank is advancing directly towards the mortar on level
ground at a speed of 3 m/s. What should be the distance from the mortar to the tank at
the instant the mortar is fired in order to score a hit? (g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:

v0 = 60 m/s (muzzle velocity)

θ = 53◦ (launch angle)
vtank = 3 m/s (tank speed towards mortar)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

Formulas:
v02 sin 2θ
R= (range of projectile)
g
2v0 sin θ
T = (time of flight)
g
Distance tank moves during flight: dtank = vtank × T Initial distance from mortar to tank:
D = R + dtank

Solution:
Step 1: Calculate the range R.

sin 2θ = sin 106◦ = 0.9613

(60 m/s)2 × 0.9613 3600 m2 /s2 × 0.9613
R= =
9.8 m/s2 9.8 m/s2
3460.68 m2 /s2
R= = 353.13 m
9.8 m/s2

Step 2: Calculate time of flight T .

sin θ = sin 53◦ = 0.7986

2 × (60 m/s) × 0.7986 95.832 m/s
T = 2 = = 9.78 s
9.8 m/s 9.8 m/s2

Step 3: Calculate distance tank moves.

dtank = (3 m/s) × (9.78 s) = 29.34 m

Step 4: Calculate initial distance.

D = 353.13 m + 29.34 m = 382.47 m ≈ 382 m

7
Answer:
382 m

Problem 8
Problem: A ball was thrown outside the window at an angle of 20◦ below the horizontal
with an initial velocity of 8 m/s. If it lands 3 s later, how far from the base of the building
did it land? (g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:

v0 = 8 m/s (initial velocity)

θ = 20◦ (angle below horizontal)
t = 3s (time of flight)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

Formula: Horizontal distance: x = v0x t, where v0x = v0 cos θ.

Solution:
v0x = (8 m/s) × cos 20◦ = (8 m/s) × 0.9397 = 7.5176 m/s
x = (7.5176 m/s) × (3 s) = 22.5528 m ≈ 22.6 m

Answer:
22.6 m

Problem 9
Problem: A baseball is thrown with an initial velocity of 100 m/s at an angle of 30◦
above the horizontal. How far from the throwing point will the ball attain its original
level? (g = 9.8 m/s2 )

8
Given:

v0 = 100 m/s (initial velocity)

θ = 30◦ (launch angle)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

v02 sin 2θ
Formula: Range: R = g

Solution:
sin 2θ = sin 60◦ = 0.8660
(100 m/s)2 × 0.8660 10000 m2 /s2 × 0.8660
R= =
9.8 m/s2 9.8 m/s2
8660 m2 /s2
R= = 883.67 m ≈ 883 m
9.8 m/s2

Answer:
883 m

Problem 10
Problem: A projectile is launched upward from level ground at an angle of 60◦ with the
horizontal. It has an initial velocity of 45 m/s. How long will it take before the projectile
hits the ground? (g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:

v0 = 45 m/s (initial velocity)

θ = 60◦ (launch angle)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

2v0 sin θ
Formula: Time of flight: T = g

Solution:
sin θ = sin 60◦ = 0.8660
2 × (45 m/s) × 0.8660 77.94 m/s
T = 2 = = 7.953 s ≈ 7.94 s
9.8 m/s 9.8 m/s2

9
Answer:
7.94 s

Problem 11
Problem: A projectile is fired from the top of a building at an angle of 20◦ below the
horizontal. If the muzzle velocity of the projectile is 8 m/s, how high is the building if
the projectile reaches the ground after 3 s? (g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:
v0 = 8 m/s (initial velocity)
θ = 20◦ (angle below horizontal)
t = 3s (time of flight)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

Formula: Vertical displacement (downward positive): y = v0y t + 21 gt2 , where v0y =

v0 sin θ (downward).

Solution:
Step 1: Calculate initial vertical velocity component (downward).
v0y = (8 m/s) × sin 20◦ = (8 m/s) × 0.3420 = 2.736 m/s

Step 2: Calculate building height h.

1
h = (2.736 m/s) × (3 s) + × (9.8 m/s2 ) × (3 s)2
2
h = 8.208 m + (4.9 m/s2 ) × (9 s2 )
h = 8.208 m + 44.1 m = 52.308 m ≈ 52.35 m

Answer:
52.35 m

10
Problem 12
Problem: A level flight bomber, flying at 90 m/s releases a bomb at an elevation of
1950 m. How long before the bomb strikes the Earth? (g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:

v0 = 90 m/s (horizontal velocity)

y0 = 1950 m (initial height)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

Formula: r
1 2y0
y0 = gt2 =⇒ t =
2 g

Solution:
s s
2 × (1950 m) 3900 m √
t= = = 397.959 s2 = 19.95 s ≈ 20 s
9.8 m/s2 9.8 m/s2

Answer:
20 s

Problem 13
Problem: At what angle should a projectile be released so that the maximum height
will be equal to its range? (g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:
Hmax = R

Formulas:
v02 sin2 θ v02 sin 2θ
Hmax = , R=
2g g

Solution: Set Hmax = R:

v02 sin2 θ v 2 sin 2θ
= 0
2g g

11
 v02
Cancel g
(nonzero):
sin2 θ
= sin 2θ
2
Recall sin 2θ = 2 sin θ cos θ:
sin2 θ
= 2 sin θ cos θ
2
Multiply both sides by 2:
sin2 θ = 4 sin θ cos θ
If sin θ ̸= 0 (launch angle not zero), divide both sides by sin θ:

sin θ = 4 cos θ

tan θ = 4
θ = tan−1 (4) = 75.96◦ ≈ 76◦

Answer:
76◦

Problem 14
Problem: A man who can throw a stone with a velocity of 20 m/s wishes to hit a target
placed on his own level at a distance of 30 m. At what angle should he throw the stone?
(g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:

v0 = 20 m/s (initial velocity)

R = 30 m (range)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

v02 sin 2θ Rg
Formula: Range equation: R = g
=⇒ sin 2θ = v02

Solution:
(30 m) × (9.8 m/s2 ) 294 m2 /s2
sin 2θ = = = 0.735
(20 m/s)2 400 m2 /s2
2θ = arcsin(0.735) = 47.3◦ or 180◦ − 47.3◦ = 132.7◦
θ = 23.65◦ or 66.35◦

12
Answer:
23.65◦ , 66.35◦

Problem 15
Problem: From the top of a building 75 m high, a bullet is fired at an angle of 45◦ above
the horizontal with an initial velocity of 270 m/s. Find the time until it hits the ground.
(g = 9.8 m/s2 )

Given:

y0 = 75 m (initial height)
θ = 45◦ (launch angle above horizontal)
v0 = 270 m/s (initial velocity)
g = 9.8 m/s2 (acceleration due to gravity)

Formula: Vertical motion equation (upward positive, ground at y = 0, initial y = y0 ):

1
0 = y0 + v0y t − gt2
2
or
1
− gt2 + v0y t + y0 = 0
2
where v0y = v0 sin θ.

Solution:
Step 1: Calculate v0y .

v0y = (270 m/s) × sin 45◦ = (270 m/s) × 0.7071 = 190.92 m/s

Step 2: Substitute into quadratic equation.

−4.9 m/s2 × t2 + (190.92 m/s) × t + 75 m = 0

Multiply by −1:
4.9 m/s2 × t2 − (190.92 m/s) × t − 75 m = 0
√
190.92± (190.92)2 +4×4.9×75
Step 3: Solve quadratic: t = 2×4.9

13
Calculate discriminant:
(190.92)2 = 36450.4464 m2 /s2
4 × 4.9 × 75 = 1470 m2 /s2
∆ = 36450.4464 + 1470 = 37920.4464 m2 /s2
√ √
∆ = 37920.4464 = 194.73 m/s

Step 4: Take positive root (time must be positive).

190.92 m/s + 194.73 m/s 385.65 m/s

t= 2 = = 39.35 s
9.8 m/s 9.8 m/s2

Answer:
39.35 s

14