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Suppose an object travels in a parabola in 2D coordinate system from P to Q and then Q to R where the 2D coordinates of P and Q are known and we do not know the parabola through these 3 points.

The object goes from P to Q in 1 millisecond and Q to R in 2 millisecond.

Is it possible to calculate the 2D position of R? If yes how can I find that? If no why not?

1 Answers1

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Based on how you pose your question, the answer is no. Why? You don't have enough information. What information is missing? What is the force influencing the behavior of the object?

EDIT TO RESPOND TO COMMENT:

In that case, F = ma is not the way to go. You are talking Kinematics. You need to research Kinematics and Jacobian matrix/determinant. This will solve your problem.

kasavbere
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  • I'll explain to you what my problem is. Say there's a point on my forearm in one image frame of a camera located at P. In second image frame after 1 millisecond that same point moved to Q in a parabola and I want to predict the location of that same point R(also in that same parabolic motion) after 2 millisecond delay of taking frame2. P and Q are known. I know that F = ma but I don't know the mass of that point/hand. So if acceleration is same for the R as it was for Q, predict the position of R(in a parabola) after 2 millisecond delay of taking 2nd image? What other information are needed? –  Apr 01 '12 at 00:24
  • Thank you kasavbere. I've to start reading physics book again then. It's been a while. Again thanks. –  Apr 01 '12 at 03:51