- #1
Machinus
challenging kinematics problem
Here is a problem I have been trying in Maple, but to no avail.
I am trying to calculate the theta that will result in maximum distance for a projectile fired from off the edge of plateau onto another, lower surface. The projectile can be considered to be fired from the exact corner of the ledge so there is no minumim distance; a velocity of zero will result in the projectile moving no distance but falling onto the lower surface.
...v[0]
______/
...|
...|______
(ignore the periods. the slash is the vector)
The method I have tried is to try to solve for t using the y-coordinates of motion, and then plug this back into the x-equation, which is linear. However, in trying to solve for t with the y-equations, I get two very nasty solutions (due to the quadratic solution) that I really am not going to do by hand, and Maple has decided not to cooperate. I am using Maple 9.5 and I know my way around, and I don't think there is any more I can do this way. If anyone knows of a better way to solve this, please let me know. Thanks.
Here is a problem I have been trying in Maple, but to no avail.
I am trying to calculate the theta that will result in maximum distance for a projectile fired from off the edge of plateau onto another, lower surface. The projectile can be considered to be fired from the exact corner of the ledge so there is no minumim distance; a velocity of zero will result in the projectile moving no distance but falling onto the lower surface.
...v[0]
______/
...|
...|______
(ignore the periods. the slash is the vector)
The method I have tried is to try to solve for t using the y-coordinates of motion, and then plug this back into the x-equation, which is linear. However, in trying to solve for t with the y-equations, I get two very nasty solutions (due to the quadratic solution) that I really am not going to do by hand, and Maple has decided not to cooperate. I am using Maple 9.5 and I know my way around, and I don't think there is any more I can do this way. If anyone knows of a better way to solve this, please let me know. Thanks.
Last edited by a moderator: