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A-Level motion question

Question: A Ball is thrown straight up with speed "u" from a point "h" meters from the ground. Show that the time taken for the ball to strike the ground is
(v/g) [ 1 + sq. root (1 + (2hg/v^2))


So far using s = -ut + 1/2at^2.
or h = -ut + 1/2gt^2 I use this equation to solve for t. So reformat it to suit the Quadratic equation so.
1/2gt^2 - ut - h = 0 (Multiply by 2)
gt^2 - 2ut - 2h = 0

then using the quadratic equation - (note am taking upward velocity as a negative so downward is positive)

2u +- squareRoot(2u^2 - 4* g * -2h) / 2g which simplifies to
2u +- squareRoot(2u^2 + 8gh) / 2g
2u +- 2squareRoot(u^2 + 2gh) / 2g
u +- squareRoot(u^2 + 2gh) / g

so far I understand all the simplifying to this point. But am not sure on the rest. Am not sure how you're able to simplify it all the way to (v/g) [ 1 + sq. root (1 + (2hg/v^2)). Where does the "1 +" come from?

thanks in advance
Original post by zattyzatzat
Question: A Ball is thrown straight up with speed "u" from a point "h" meters from the ground. Show that the time taken for the ball to strike the ground is
(v/g) [ 1 + sq. root (1 + (2hg/v^2))


So far using s = -ut + 1/2at^2.
or h = -ut + 1/2gt^2 I use this equation to solve for t. So reformat it to suit the Quadratic equation so.
1/2gt^2 - ut - h = 0 (Multiply by 2)
gt^2 - 2ut - 2h = 0

then using the quadratic equation - (note am taking upward velocity as a negative so downward is positive)

2u +- squareRoot(2u^2 - 4* g * -2h) / 2g which simplifies to
2u +- squareRoot(2u^2 + 8gh) / 2g
2u +- 2squareRoot(u^2 + 2gh) / 2g
u +- squareRoot(u^2 + 2gh) / g

so far I understand all the simplifying to this point. But am not sure on the rest. Am not sure how you're able to simplify it all the way to (v/g) [ 1 + sq. root (1 + (2hg/v^2)). Where does the "1 +" come from?

thanks in advance


To start, a ++ is needed rather than a ±\pm as u2+2gh>u\sqrt{u^2 + 2gh} > u and subtracting it would give a negative time. Then

u+u2+2ghg=u(1+1uu2+2gh)g=ug(1+u2+2ghu2)=ug(1+1+2ghu2)\frac{u + \sqrt{u^2 + 2gh}}{g} = \frac{u\left(1 + \frac{1}{u}\sqrt{u^2 + 2gh}\right)}{g} = \frac{u}{g}\left(1 + \sqrt{\frac{u^2 + 2gh}{u^2}}\right) = \frac{u}{g}\left(1 + \sqrt{1 + \frac{2gh}{u^2}}\right) :smile:

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