Physics Cup 2019

Page 1 of 3
Roberto Marín Delgado

Problem 3. Shape created by foci points of a bouncing ball

Focus equation 1 + 𝑏 2 ∓ 2𝑏 ±𝑏 − 𝑏 2
⇒𝑦= + +𝑐
4𝑎 2𝑎
To begin with the problem, it is
necessary to find the foci in function of the 1 − 𝑏2
𝑦= +𝑐
problem data, the focus of a given parabola 4𝑎
𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑥0 )2 + 𝑏(𝑥 − 𝑥0 ) + 𝑐 can be found
We already know the parabola
using a simple optics fact which says that a
equation for a projectile is:
beam of light reflected in the insides of a
parabola shaped mirror would end in the −𝑔(𝑥 − 𝑥0 )2
focus, for that derivation the next figure is 𝑦= + (𝑥 − 𝑥0 ) tan 𝜃 + 𝑦0
2𝑣02 cos 2 𝜃
necessary.
Using the last relation to obtain the
focus point
1
𝑓= (2𝑔𝑥0 + 2𝑣𝑥 𝑣𝑦 , 2𝑔𝑦0 + 𝑣𝑦2 − 𝑣𝑥2) (1)
2𝑔
Now we know the variables that define
the foci, these variables 𝑣𝑥 , 𝑣𝑦 , 𝑥0 and 𝑦0 are 𝑛
dependant where 𝑛 is the number of bounces
between the ball and the plane.
Figure 1. Parabolic mirror reflecting beams of
Variables in function of 𝒏
light.
The problem can be simplified rotating
The derivative of the parabola is
the coordinate system.
𝑑𝑦 𝑦′
= tan 𝜃 = 2𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 − 2𝑎𝑥0 𝑔 sen 𝛼
𝑑𝑥 𝑑
𝛼 𝑔 cos 𝛼 𝑥′
From the figure one can see that by
symmetry the 𝑥 coordinate of the focus is Figure 2. Rotated coordinate system.
𝑏 Since the 𝑦′ acceleration is constant
𝑥=− + 𝑥0
2𝑎 trough the 𝑥′ coordinate the amount of time ∆𝑡
The 𝑦 coordinate of the focus is in the taken between each bounce is constant.
place in which the angle of the point is ±45º,
𝑔 cos 𝛼 ∆𝑡 2
so. 𝑑 cos 𝛼 = ( )
2 2
2𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 − 2𝑎𝑥0 = ±1
2𝑑
±1 − 𝑏 ⇒ ∆𝑡 = 2√
⇒𝑥= + 𝑥0 𝑔
2𝑎
Replacing the last relation into the Using the last argument, the 𝑦′
parabola equation. component of velocity right after colliding is
the same in each bounce.
±1 − 𝑏 2 ±1 − 𝑏
𝑦 = 𝑎( ) +𝑏( )+𝑐 ∆𝑡
2𝑎 2𝑎 𝑣𝑦′ = 𝑔 cos 𝛼 = √2𝑑𝑔 cos 𝛼
2
 Physics Cup 2019
Page 2 of 3
Roberto Marín Delgado

The 𝑥′ component of velocity increases 𝑥

𝑛2 =
in each bounce. cos 2𝛼

1 Replacing the last relation into 𝑦.

𝑣𝑥′ = 𝑔∆𝑡 (𝑛 − ) sin 𝛼
2 𝑦 = −𝑛2 sin 2𝛼
⇒ 𝑣𝑥′ = (2𝑛 − 1)√2𝑔𝑑 sin 𝛼 𝑦 = −𝑥 tan 2𝛼
The 𝑥 and 𝑦 components of velocity
This result applies for the assumption
can be derived geometrically from the
of the origin (0,0) being in the initial moment
previous relations, for the 𝑦 direction.
when the ball was released from rest (the
𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣𝑦′ cos 𝛼 − 𝑣𝑥 ′ sin 𝛼 plane equation become 𝑦 = −𝑥 tan 𝛼 − 𝑑), the
parameter 𝑑 is implicit and the transformation
⇒ 𝑣𝑦 = √2𝑑𝑔(1 − 2𝑛 sin2 𝛼) (2) used to move the equation of the plane should
The velocity in the 𝑥 direction. be the same as the one used to move the foci
line since this shape must have the initial
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑦′ sin 𝛼 + 𝑣𝑥 ′ cos 𝛼 trajectory point. Even if the expression
become undefined at 𝛼 = 45º the limiting case
⇒ 𝑣𝑥 = 2𝑛√2𝑑𝑔 cos 𝛼 sin 𝛼 (3) stands for a vertical line 𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡. The
The distance in the 𝑥′ direction can be shape is depicted in the next GeoGebra figure
𝑦 𝑥
obtained from the constant acceleration for 𝛼 = 30º, the scaling 𝑦𝑠 = and 𝑥𝑠 = for
𝑑 𝑑
displacement equation. the plane function and for each parabola is
𝑔 sin 𝛼 2 used.
𝑠= ∆𝑡 (𝑛 − 1)2 + 𝑣1𝑥′ ∆𝑡(𝑛 − 1)
2
⇒ 𝑠 = 4𝑑(𝑛 − 1)𝑛 sin 𝛼
The last is the component along the
plane surface, its projection in 𝑦 can be used to
determine 𝑦0 assuming that the point (0,0) is
the one in which the ball started to fall from
rest.
𝑦0 = −(𝑠 sin 𝛼 + 𝑑)

𝑦0 = −𝑑[4(𝑛 − 1)𝑛 sin2 𝛼 + 1] (4)

Similarly, for 𝑥0 .

𝑥0 = 4𝑑(𝑛 − 1)𝑛 sin 𝛼 cos 𝛼 (5)

Replacing equations (2), (3), (4) and
(5) in equation (1).

𝑓 = 2𝑑 sin 2𝛼 (𝑛2 cos 2𝛼 , −𝑛2 sin 2𝛼)

To derive the shape, it is necessary to
find 𝑛 in terms of its 𝑥 coordinate.

𝑥 = 𝑛2 cos 2𝛼
 Physics Cup 2019
Page 3 of 3
Roberto Marín Delgado

Figure 3. Ball trajectory for four bounces represented as the pieces of green parabola at the right side of the plane (red line), the blue line
represents the line in which the foci of every parabola lies, the foci (blue dots) and each maximum (gray dots) are depicted too.