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Horizontal Launch

Part of the Mechanics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 37 of 97.

Launched horizontally, an object starts with zero vertical velocity. The height sets the time; the launch speed sets the distance:

h=12gt2,x=v0th = \tfrac{1}{2} g t^2, \quad x = v_0 t

The horizontal part of the velocity stays the same; only the vertical part grows.

A ball launched horizontally with velocity v0 from the top of a cliff of height h follows a curved path and lands a distance x from the base. Partway down, its velocity v is split into a horizontal part vx, as long as v0, and a vertical part vy pointing down.

The horizontal part of the velocity stays v0; only the vertical part grows.

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Challenge

A diver runs straight off a cliff, moving horizontally, and falls 44.1 m44.1\ \mathrm{m} to the sea. Find the time tt of the fall.

Try it yourself

Physics diagram: path, ball, vec; arrows v 0

Solve for tt

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This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

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