Help me study for my physics test tomorrow!

midnight rain · 02-07-2012, 07:02 PM

Ok a little heads up I noticed with the dumb google calculator

tan(20 degrees) is actually equal to 0.36, not sure why google calculator was giving me that other number. But the steps are the same. So the first answer is actually something like 27.

And yes you're answer looks right

Freebase Dali · 02-07-2012, 07:05 PM

Oh, one more thing about trig real quick. If I want to find the angle of a right triangle, I know I need to use inverse sin, cos, or tan.

Walk me through the steps of finding the angle of a right triangle whose hypoteneus is 5 units, and whose opposite side is 7 units.

skaltezon · 02-07-2012, 07:09 PM

opposite side can't be larger than the hypotenuse

. . .but if the numbers are reversed, you have

sin(x) = 5/7 = .7

x = arcsin (.7)

midnight rain · 02-07-2012, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Oh, one more thing about trig real quick. If I want to find the angle of a right triangle, I know I need to use inverse sin, cos, or tan.

Walk me through the steps of finding the angle of a right triangle whose hypoteneus is 5 units, and whose opposite side is 7 units.

I think it's as simple as arcsin(7/5). Just put that into your calculator.

It's basically just the reverse, there's no steps involved, unless it was values used on 45-45-90 triangles or 30-60-90

Plus what skaltezon said LOL

Freebase Dali · 02-07-2012, 07:12 PM

K. Disregarding the fact that my triangle is breaking all the rules, I would simply divide the opposite side by the hypoteneus and multiply that number by the inverse of sin? That works for me.

Burning Down · 02-07-2012, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Oh, one more thing about trig real quick. If I want to find the angle of a right triangle, I know I need to use inverse sin, cos, or tan.

Walk me through the steps of finding the angle of a right triangle whose hypoteneus is 5 units, and whose opposite side is 7 units.

Hypotenuse is always smaller than the opposite. If I recall correctly, you can plug in arcsin(7/5) in a calculator to get your answer.

edit: damn, I was too slow

midnight rain · 02-07-2012, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Word. Ok. So I have the basics. Now, when doing 2 dimensional kinematics, that trig comes into play, but I also have to remember some formulas. I can put those on my phone, so I'm not worried too much about it, since my phone is also my calculator, which is allowed.

So, how would you guys go about solving something like this (taken from a homework problem):

A projectile is launched from and returns to ground level. Air resistance is absent. The horizontal range of the projectile is R = 175 m, and the horizontal component of the launch velocity is Vox = 25 m/s. Find the vertical component Voy of the launch velocity.

I haven't taken college physics but isn't the equation just displacement = velocity * time ?

Burning Down · 02-07-2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

K. Disregarding the fact that my triangle is breaking all the rules, I would simply divide the opposite side by the hypoteneus and multiply that number by the inverse of sin? That works for me.

Yes. That will give you the angle.

Freebase Dali · 02-07-2012, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuna

I haven't taken college physics but isn't the equation just displacement = velocity * time ?

Well displacement is actually velocity over time (d = v/t) if I remember correctly, but that's one dimensional. The problem has both the x and y dimension, and is asking for the components of the vector, which the vector would be a diagonal line. I would need to figure out the x component and the y component that made the resultant vector.

skaltezon · 02-07-2012, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

K. Disregarding the fact that my triangle is breaking all the rules, I would simply divide the opposite side by the hypoteneus and multiply that number by the inverse of sin? That works for me.

No. Find the value of 5/7 and look in a table to see what angle has that sine value. Or use your scientific calculator, if that's permitted.

02-07-2012, 07:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	Oh, one more thing about trig real quick. If I want to find the angle of a right triangle, I know I need to use inverse sin, cos, or tan. Walk me through the steps of finding the angle of a right triangle whose hypoteneus is 5 units, and whose opposite side is 7 units. __________________

02-07-2012, 07:09 PM	#13 (permalink)
skaltezon Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: hairball cluster Posts: 326	opposite side can't be larger than the hypotenuse . . .but if the numbers are reversed, you have sin(x) = 5/7 = .7 x = arcsin (.7) __________________ . . . Occupy protest locations in the United States Occupy protest locations worldwide

02-07-2012, 07:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	K. Disregarding the fact that my triangle is breaking all the rules, I would simply divide the opposite side by the hypoteneus and multiply that number by the inverse of sin? That works for me. __________________

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02-07-2012, 07:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
midnight rain Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,711	Ok a little heads up I noticed with the dumb google calculator tan(20 degrees) is actually equal to 0.36, not sure why google calculator was giving me that other number. But the steps are the same. So the first answer is actually something like 27. And yes you're answer looks right