Mr. Rogers' AP Physics C: Projectile motion Problems

 

 

 
 

Bomber Problem

A WWII Bomber from an aircraft carrier flying at an altitude of 3000 m and a horizontal velocity of 100 m/s drops a bomb. Find the horizontal distance the bomb travels before hitting the ground.

 

Solution

Place the origin at the point where the bomb is released. Define horizontal as the x-dimension with negative to the left and vertical as the y-dimension with negative downward.

x-dimension

Start by finding time
in  the y-dimension  >>>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

x = 1/2axt2 + voxt         

      = 0 + voxt

      = (-100 m/s) (25 sec.)

  x  = -2500 m

x  = -2500 m

Note: the negative sign  only means that the displacement is to the left.

y- dimension

 

y = 1/2ayt2 + voyt

but  voy = 0 so:

y = 1/2ayt2 + 0

t2 = 2 y / ay

 t   = (2 y / ay) 0.5

    = (2 (-3000 m) / (-9.8 m/s2) 0.5

    = 25 sec.

<<<   Finish in x-dimension
Conclusion and Significance

Even with a relatively slow moving bomber, a bomb has to be dropped a considerable distance before the aircraft reaches the target.
Mr

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