A ball is thrown from the location (x0,y0)=(0,0) of a horizontal playground with an initial speed v0 at an angle θ0 from the +x-direction. The ball is to be hit by a stone, which is thrown at the same time from the location (x1,y1)=(L,0). The stone is thrown at an angle (180−θ1) from the +x-direction with a suitable initial speed. For a fixed v0, when (θ0,θ1)=(45∘,45∘), the stone hits the ball after time T1, and when (θ0,θ1)=(60∘,30∘), it hits the ball after time T2. In such a case, (T1/T2)2 is ____.
Answer: 2
Solution
For collision to occur, the relative acceleration in the horizontal direction must be zero (both have same vertical acceleration g).
Case I:(θ0,θ1)=(45°,45°)
Horizontal components: ball has v0/2, stone has v/2 (leftward). For collision: v=v0.
Time to meet:
T1=v0/2+v0/2L=2v0L
Case II:(θ0,θ1)=(60°,30°)
Horizontal components: ball has v0/2, stone has v3/2 (leftward). For collision (matching vertical components): v=3v0.
Time to meet:
T2=v0/2+3v0/2L=2v0L
Therefore:
(T2T1)2=(L/(2v0)L/(2v0))2=(22)2=2
JEE Advanced · 2024 · 26 May 2024 · Paper 2 · Integer answer