A driver leaves a 3 foot high diving board with an initial upward velocity of 11 feet per second. Use the projectile motion model h(t)=-16t^2+Vt+ho

Question

Write the function that represents the drivers height as a function of time 

 

Answer 1

I don't get it ....

The function you gave for projectile IS the divers height as a function of time.

You have a function h, of time t ----- h(t).

 

But I should add it is likely a math teacher that gave you this problem because;

h(t) = -16t^2 Vt + h0 is NOT the CORRECT physics equation.

 

In the correct equation V is Not the symbol for velocity,  it is lowercase v,

the displacement is not represented with the variable h,  x is the displacement variable,

and most important, the constant for the t^2 term is NOT -16, it is 1/2(a) where a is the acceleration and in this case the acceleration caused by gravity is -32 ft/s/s, or in metric -9.81 m/s/s.

 

So the REAL equation is x(t) = (1/2)(a)t² + v_it + x_i ;

    where a = -32 ft/s/s is the acceleration caused by gravity,

    and v_i and x_i are the initial velocities and positions.

 

Sorry - but I just hate it when math people use incorrect physics to teach math.