There are a number of caches which are based on finding the landing
point of an object sent on a ballistic trajectory.
Examples are Vector, Bullet train and
Ready! Aim! Cache!
I thought Whyalla should have its own modest version, so here it
is.
The
scenario:
The local mediaeval re-enactment society has constructed a model
of a catapult. They set it up at the given coordinates on a soccer
ground to test it out. The trial shot does not go straight down the
soccer ground as intended, but off at an angle. They also
underestimate the catapult's capabilities and their small
projectile disappears into the distance towards the Whyalla
Wetlands.
Because of its terrorist potential, their activities are of
course being watched by agents from BANANA – the Be Aware Not
Alarmed National Authority. The agents have surreptitiously
measured the direction (143° true), angle of take-off (50°)
and take-off velocity (192 km/hr) of the projectile. Although the
BANANA agents know where the catapulted object landed, they do not
remove it. Instead, they add a bit of camouflage and lie in wait to
see if anyone comes looking for it.
Your
mission:
Can you find it without being spotted?
(Assume that the projectile is launched from ground level, the
ground is flat between take-off and landing, the acceleration due
to gravity is 9.8 m/sec² and air resistance is ignored. Having
calculated the horizontal distance travelled, I used the projection
option in FizzyCalc to get the
final coordinates.)
** Please do not include any comments or
pictures in your logs that would give away the landing spot.
**
