Okay, here's the problem:
During a football game, the quarterback rolls out to his right with two huge linebackers in close pursuit. An instant before the linebackers bury him at the 50 yard line (46-m), he releases a towering pass down the sideling. The ball sails toward the end zone with a horizontal velocity of 11.4m/s. At the instant the pass is released by the quarterback, the offensive receiver is crossing the 40-yard (36m) line, along the sideline at a velocity of 8.8 m/s. The defensive safety is 2-m behind the offensive receiver and moving down the sideline at a velocity of 9.5 m/s. The pass reaches a maximum height of 21.6m and is caught in the end zone. Determine if the football is caught for a touchdown or an interception as follows. (Assume no air resistance.)
Now, I drew a picture so that I could better understand what was going on. But I don't quite get what "The pass reaches a maximum height of 21.6m and is caught in the end zone." means. I don't understand how I would use that in the problem. Can anyone explain that please?
I'm going to post the question in parts to make it less confusing. Thanks in advance for the help!
This is the height of silliness, I would drop the class. All this violent reality, then the discamimer neglect air resistance. Assume Santa and the North pole exists, but forget about the reindeer. Whatever. We ought not be burying folks on a playing field.
The issue seems to be is whom get to the ball first.
So, figure the time the ball is in the air, use the max height to do this.
Then, knowing time in air, find where it lands at thown height (which is catch height). (We call that horizontal distance given an initial velocity and time).
Then using your sketch, note the receiver travels that distance less ten meters. Does he travel that distance (time= distance/hisSpeed) in the same time the ball is in the air?
If not, the defensive guy travels the distance the ball is in the air (46m-36m+2m) (time=distance/hisspeed) and he catches it.
There is some question in my mind where the defensive guy is: "is 2 m behind the receiver" could mean differing things. Normally that would mean the defensive guy is 2 m closer to the endpost, but I don't think that is the intent here, but I don't know.
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