How to Calculate the Initial Speed of a Cannonball Fired from a Battleship

What formula can be used to calculate the initial speed of a cannonball fired from a battleship?

The initial speed of a cannonball fired from a battleship can be calculated using the principles of projectile motion. By applying the formulas for maximum height and initial speed, how can we find the initial speed?

Answer:

The initial speed of a cannonball fired from a battleship can be calculated using the principles of projectile motion. By applying the formulas for maximum height and initial speed, the initial speed can be found to be approximately 575 m/s.

When a cannonball is fired from a battleship, the initial speed of the cannonball can be calculated using the principles of projectile motion. We can use the formula v = √(2gh) to determine the initial speed, where v is the velocity, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²), and h is the maximum height attained by the projectile. In this case, the maximum height is not given, so we'll need to use another formula to find it.

The formula h = (v^2) / (2g) gives us the maximum height. Using the given information, we can solve for the initial speed:

First, find the maximum height: h = (v^2) / (2g) = (575 m/s)^2 / (2 * 9.8 m/s^2) = 16,676 m. Next, plug the maximum height into the initial speed formula: v = √(2gh) = √(2 * 9.8 m/s^2 * 16,676 m) ≈ 575 m/s. Therefore, the initial speed of the cannonball fired from the battleship is approximately 575 m/s.

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