4.35. A cricket fielder can throw the cricket ball with a speed v0. If he throws the ball while running with speed u at an angle θ to the horizontal, find

a) the effective angle to the horizontal at which the ball is projected in the air as seen by a spectator

b) what will be the time of flight?

c) what is the distance from the point of projection at which the ball will land?

d) find θ at which he should throw the ball that would maximize the horizontal range as found c)

e) how does θ for maximum range change if u>u0,u=u0,u<v0?

f) how does θ in e) compare with that for u = 0(i.e.,45)?


Hint: Horizontal velocity of the ball is added with the velocity of man.
Step 1: Find the net velocity of the ball seen by the spectator.

Consider the adjacent diagram.


(a) Initial velocity in
x -direction, ux=u+v0cosθuy= Initial velocity in y -direction =v0sinθ

where the angle of projection is θ.
Now, we can write

tanθ=uyux=u0sinθu+u0cosθθ=tan1v0sinθu+v0cosθ

Step 2: Find the time of flight

(b) Let T be the time of flight.
As net vertical displacement is zero over the time period T
y=0,uy=v0sinθ,ay=g,t=T
We know that    y=uyt+12ayt2

0=v0sinθT+12(g)T2Tv0sinθg2T=0T=0,2v0sinθgT=0, corresponds to point 0. Hence,T=2u0sinθg

Step 3: Find the horizontal range.

(c)

 Horizontal range, R=(u+v0cosθ)T=(u+v0cosθ)2v0sinθg=v0g[2usinθ+v0sin2θ]

Step 4: Apply maxima and minima and find the maximum horizontal ranges for different conditions.

(d)

 For horizontal range to be maximum, dRdθ=0

v0g[2ucosθ+v0cos2θ×2]=02ucosθ+2v0[2cos2θ1]=04v0cos2θ+2ucosθ2v0=02v0cos2θ+ucosθv0=0cosθ=u±u2+8v024v0θmax=cos1u±u2+8v024v0=cos1u+u2+8v024v0

(e) If u=v0

cosθ=v0±v02+8v024v0=1+34=12
θ=60
 If u<<v0, then 8v02+u28v02θmax=cos1u±22v04v0=cos112u4v0θmax=cos112=π4u>>v0θmax=cos1u±u4v0=0θmax=π2

(f) If u=0,θmax=cos10±8v204v0=cos112=45