Air resistance with Projectile Motion.

[cmsoccer21]

I have a quick question... when you launch a projectile with no air resistance, the optimal launching angle is 45 degress with no air resistance, but when you add air resistance into the equation, the optimal launching angle for distance changes. Does air resistance make this angle bigger or smaller and why?

 

[Dale]

Try http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/336k/lectures/node43.html" for a start. The conclusion is that the maximum range is obtained for shallower angles.