Part 1: A ski jumper travels down a slope and leaves the ski track moving in the horizontal direction with a speed of 27 m/s as in the figure. The landing incline below her falls off with a slope of θ = 37 degrees. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s^2. Calculate the distance she travels along the incline before landing. Answer in units of m.

Part 2: Determine how long the ski jumper is airborne. Answer in units of s.

Part 3: What is the magnitude of the relative angle φ with which the ski jumper hits the slope? Answer in units of degrees.

1 answer

To solve this problem, we can use some basic physics involving projectile motion and geometry.

Part 1: Distance along the incline before landing

  1. Identify the components of motion: The ski jumper leaves the ramp horizontally with a speed \( v_0 = 27 , \text{m/s} \), and we assume \( t = 0 \) when she leaves the slope. The vertical motion is governed by gravity.

  2. Calculate the time of flight: The vertical position during free fall can be described by the equation: \[ y = \frac{1}{2} g t^2 \] where \( g = 9.8 , \text{m/s}^2 \). Since the ski jumper will hit the inclined plane at a vertical height \( y \) defined by how far she falls before hitting that incline.

  3. Relationship with the incline: The incline at angle \( \theta = 37^\circ \) can be described by: \[ y = x \tan(\theta) \] where \( x \) is the distance she travels along the incline. Combining both equations: \[ y = \frac{1}{2} g t^2 = x \tan(37^\circ) \]

  4. Finding the relationship between \( x \) and \( t \): The horizontal distance the jumper travels before hitting the slope is: \[ x_{horizontal} = v_0 t \]

  5. Use the geometric relationship to solve for \( x \): The horizontal distance \( x_{horizontal} \) can also be expressed in terms of \( x \) as: \[ x_{horizontal} = x \cos(37^\circ) \] Hence, we can set \( v_0 t = x \cos(37^\circ) \).

    Now substituting \( y = x \tan(37^\circ) \): \( x \tan(37^\circ) = \frac{1}{2} g t^2 \).

Equations Set up:

  1. Horizontal distance: \[ v_0 t = x \cos(37^\circ) \] \[ t = \frac{x \cos(37^\circ)}{v_0} \]

  2. Vertical distance (substituting \( t \)): \[ x \tan(37^\circ) = \frac{1}{2} g \left(\frac{x \cos(37^\circ)}{v_0}\right)^2 \]

    Rearranging to isolate \( x \): \[ x \tan(37^\circ) = \frac{1}{2} g \frac{x^2 \cos^2(37^\circ)}{v_0^2} \] Cancel \( x \) (assuming \( x \neq 0 \)): \[ \tan(37^\circ) = \frac{1}{2} g \frac{x \cos^2(37^\circ)}{v_0^2} \]

    Thus, \[ x = \frac{2 v_0^2 \tan(37^\circ)}{g \cos^2(37^\circ)} \]

    Plug in the known values:

    • \( v_0 = 27 , \text{m/s} \),
    • \( g = 9.8 , \text{m/s}^2 \),
    • \( \tan(37^\circ) \approx 0.7536 \),
    • \( \cos(37^\circ) \approx 0.7986 \).

    Therefore: \[ x = \frac{2 (27)^2 (0.7536)}{9.8 (0.7986)^2} = \frac{2 \times 729 \times 0.7536}{9.8 \times 0.6386} = \frac{1095.1304}{6.2654} \approx 174.50 , \text{m} \]

Part 2: Time in the air

Using \( t \) from the horizontal velocity calculations: \[ t = \frac{x \cos(37^\circ)}{v_0} = \frac{174.50 \cdot 0.7986}{27} \approx \frac{139.63}{27} \approx 5.17 , s \]

Part 3: Angle of impact φ

The vertical velocity component \( v_y \) when landing is given as: \[ v_y = g t \ = 9.8 \cdot 5.17 \approx 50.75 , \text{m/s} \]

The horizontal \( v_x = v_0 = 27 , \text{m/s} \).

Using \( \tan(\phi) = \frac{v_y}{v_x} \): \[ \tan(\phi) = \frac{50.75}{27} \] Calculating \( \phi \): \[ \phi = \arctan\left(\frac{50.75}{27}\right) \approx \arctan(1.88) \approx 62.26^\circ \]

Thus, we summarize the answers:

  1. Distance along the incline: \( x \approx 174.50 , \text{m} \)
  2. Time in air: \( t \approx 5.17 , \text{s} \)
  3. Impact angle: \( \phi \approx 62.26^\circ \)