Question

Your friend has asked you to pick them up a sandwich from the deli. You buy them an Italian hoagie with extra banana peppers. When you arrive at their apartment building, they lean out of their window 15 m above you and ask you to throw it up to them so that they don’t have to come downstairs.

a) What is the minimum initial velocity (vi) the sandwich needs to have when it leaves your hand to reach your friend's window?
b) If your friend is unable to catch a sandwich moving faster than 1 m/s, what is the maximum initial velocity (vi) at which you can throw the sandwich?

Answer 1

To calculate the minimum initial velocity that the sandwich needs to have when it leaves your hand to reach your friend's window, use the equation for vertical motion. To calculate the maximum initial velocity at which you can throw the sandwich, determine the time it takes for the sandwich to reach the window and then use the equation for vertical motion.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the minimum initial velocity that the sandwich needs to have when it leaves your hand to reach your friend's window:

1. First, determine the time it takes for the sandwich to reach the window.
2. Use the equation for vertical motion to find the initial velocity:

Vi = (H - 0.5 * g * t^2) / t

where H is the height of the window and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

To calculate the maximum initial velocity at which you can throw the sandwich:

1. First, determine the time it takes for the sandwich to reach the window using the equation:

t = sqrt(2H/g)

1. Use the equation for vertical motion to find the initial velocity:

Vi = (H - 0.5 * g * t^2) / t

where H is the height of the window and g is the acceleration due to gravity.