Published by:
CGP EDU Academic Team
Published on: September 12, 2026
A boy throws a ball so as to clear a wall of height ‘h’ at a distance ‘x’ from him. Find minimum speed of the ball to clear the wall.
Text Solution
Verified by ExpertsThe correct answer is:
A
Step 1: Identify the variables involved. We need to find the initial speed () required for the ball to clear the wall of height 'h' at a horizontal distance 'x'.
Step 2: Use the equations of projectile motion. The range R of a projectile is given by:
R = \frac{u^2 \sin(2\theta)}{g}, where 'u' is the initial speed, 'g' is the acceleration due to gravity, and 'theta' is the angle of projection.
Here, the horizontal distance (R) is equal to 'x'.
Step 3: The height 'h' achieved by the projectile at the horizontal distance 'x' is given by:
h = x \tan(\theta) - \frac{g x^2}{2u^2 \cos^2(\theta)}.
Step 4: To find the minimum speed required to clear the wall, we need to maximize the range for a given maximum height. This can be equivalent to setting up a right triangle where the vertical and horizontal components need to just clear the wall. After manipulating the projectile motion equations, we can derive:
u = \sqrt{\frac{g h}{2(1 - \frac{h}{h_{max}})}}
For the case of the minimum speed, substituting the conditions yields:
Final Step: The minimum speed, u_min = \sqrt{\frac{g h}{x}}.
Thus, we conclude that the minimum required speed to just clear the wall is derived from the parameters provided.
Step 2: Use the equations of projectile motion. The range R of a projectile is given by:
R = \frac{u^2 \sin(2\theta)}{g}, where 'u' is the initial speed, 'g' is the acceleration due to gravity, and 'theta' is the angle of projection.
Here, the horizontal distance (R) is equal to 'x'.
Step 3: The height 'h' achieved by the projectile at the horizontal distance 'x' is given by:
h = x \tan(\theta) - \frac{g x^2}{2u^2 \cos^2(\theta)}.
Step 4: To find the minimum speed required to clear the wall, we need to maximize the range for a given maximum height. This can be equivalent to setting up a right triangle where the vertical and horizontal components need to just clear the wall. After manipulating the projectile motion equations, we can derive:
u = \sqrt{\frac{g h}{2(1 - \frac{h}{h_{max}})}}
For the case of the minimum speed, substituting the conditions yields:
Final Step: The minimum speed, u_min = \sqrt{\frac{g h}{x}}.
Thus, we conclude that the minimum required speed to just clear the wall is derived from the parameters provided.
Prepare Smarter with CGP Edu
Get practice questions, solutions, and test series in one place.
Write a Review
Share your experience with this question and solution.
Commentary
Send your comment, doubt, correction, or feedback to admin.
Similar Questions
Explore conceptually related problems
A man swings a stone tied to a string of length in a vertical plane. The string remains stretched …
The driver of a car traveling at velocity v suddenly sees a broad wall in front of him at distance …
To anticipate the dip and hump in the road the driver of a car applies her brakes to produce a unif…
A certain rocket maintains a horizontal attitude of its axis during the powered phase of its fligh…
The turning of a car must be produced by an external force acting at an angle to the line of motion…
A body slips down a chute which is in the form of a loop as in fig. It starts from the lowest admis…