A body projected with a speed v has its speed v/2 at the highest position of its trajectory. The maximum height attained by it is ?

1 Answer
Jul 7, 2017

#h = (3v^2)/(8g)#

Explanation:

We know that it was launched with a speed #v#, and at its highest point, the #y#-velocity is zero, so the speed of #v/2# is solely the #x#-component (which does not change).

The initial #x#-velocity is thus also #v/2#, and the magnitude of the initial velocity is #v#, so the initial #y#-velocity is given by the Pythagorean theorem:

#v_(0y) = sqrt((v)^2 - (v/2)^2) = (vsqrt3)/2#

(which are components of a #30^"o"-60^"o"-90^"o"# triangle)

The maximum height #h# attained is given by the kinematics equation

#(v_y)^2 = (v_(0y))^2 - 2gh#

Plugging in known values, we have

#0 = 0.75v^2 - 2(9.81color(white)(l)"m/s"^2)h#

Rearranging and simplifying gives

#h = (0.75v^2)/(19.62color(white)(l)"m/s"^2)#

We can also simply write it with the acceleration #g# to make things even simpler:

#color(blue)(h = (0.75v^2)/(2g)#

or

#color(blue)(h = (3v^2)/(8g)#