For safety reasons, park rangers decide to start an avalanche on a mountain slope. They fire an artillery shell at an angle of 430 above the horizontal with an initial speed of 284 m/s. Thirty seconds later they see the explosion. What is the x coordinates of the shell where it explodes, relative to the firing point?

Question

For safety reasons, park rangers decide to start an avalanche on a mountain slope.  They fire an artillery shell at an angle of 430 above the horizontal with an initial speed of 284 m/s.  Thirty seconds later they see the explosion.  What is the x coordinates of the shell where it explodes, relative to the firing point?

/i havent the slightest on how to start

Scott · Answer

the horizontal (x) component of the launch speed is ... 284 m/s * cos(43º) the horizontal component is not affected by gravity ... so just multiply by the flight time

Adam · Answer

That did the trick! I see now, we're rolling in trig functions! math is not my strong point, thank you again Scott.