Question

Jimmy hits a baseball so that it travels at a speed of 110 ft/sec and at an angle of 35 degrees with the horizontal. Assume his bat contacts the ball at a height of 3.5 ft above the ground. Write a pair of parametric equations to simulate the path of the ball.

-What is a parametric equation?
-I know I need to draw a triangle, but where do I go from there? What does the speed mean?

Answer 1

Parametric equation give x and y as functions of a third variable called the parameter (usually t). Once you draw the triangle, resolve the speed into vertical and horizontal vectors.

Answer 2

The horizontal speed is constant at 110 cos 35°, so the horizontal path follows x = (110 cos 35°)t, where t = time.

Answer 3

How do you know it's a cosine function?

Answer 4

from the triangle