Can you see a pattern in the range and time of flight of mortar shells?

[Lukeblackhill]

Morning Mates,

This problem of Berkeley Physics Course, Vol.1 - Chap. 3, says,

"Range of mortar shells. The following are experimental data on the range and muzzle velocity of mortar shells, all fired at 4.5 0 to the horizontal. The time of flight is also included. Compare these ranges and times with the simple theory. Can you see any regularity? (Data from U.S. Department of Army, Firing Tables FT4.2-F-I, December 19.54.) Use g = 32 ft/s².

Range, (yd) Muzzle velocity, (ft/s) Time (s)
1063 334 14.4
1268 368 15.7
1475 400 17.0
1683 431 18.2 ".My doubt is not much about how to do it, but about the question in bold. It sounds somewhat vague to me. What does he really want to know? If the information fits in the equations of motion for a body falling in the uniformly constant gravitational field of the earth?

Thank you for help!
Cheers,
Luke.

 

[TSny]

What does he really want to know? If the information fits in the equations of motion for a body falling in the uniformly constant gravitational field of the earth?

Yes. For example, what would you calculate for the range and time of flight of a projectile fired at 45 degrees with an initial speed of 334 ft/s? How do your calculated values compare to the actual data? You might compare them by calculating the percent difference between your calculated values and the actual data values. After doing this for all four cases, do you see any regularity or trend? How do you account for it?

 

[Lukeblackhill]

Yes. For example, what would you calculate for the range and time of flight of a projectile fired at 45 degrees with an initial speed of 334 ft/s? How do your calculated values compare to the actual data? You might compare them by calculating the percent difference between your calculated values and the actual data values. After doing this for all four cases, do you see any regularity or trend? How do you account for it?

Thank you @TSny, that was rather helpful.