Answer to Keep the Pedal to the Metal!

 
     Oh boy! The engine won't help now. I hope someone in this outfit had enough physics to calculate the speed necessary to reach the other ramp. 

     Lucky you... you just got recruited for the team! Here's the data: the take-off ramp is at an angle of 30° and the distance between the ramps is 30 meters. There will be a 30% bonus in your paycheck if you get it right! 

     By the way, the take-off and landing ramps are at the same level.

     This one's tricky! Time-of-flight will be t = 2(vy / g) and dx = 30 m = (vx ) t .
Substitute for t in the second equation to get 
     d = (2vy vx ) / g
Also, v  =  vx tan 30°, so substitute for vy in the above equation and solve for vx .

     Once you have the components of velocity, use the Pythagorean theorem to obtain (drum roll...) 18.5 m/s (at 30°). 

     By the way, this is about 42 mi/hr.

 
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Last updated 2/21/98