Free fall acceleration on a planet

[drummerdimitr]

Homework Statement

An astronaut on a strange planet finds that she can jump a maximum horizontal distance of 15 m if her initial speed is 3 m/s. What is the free fall acceleration on the planet?

Homework Equations

R=Vi^2sin2α/g

The Attempt at a Solution

15=9sin2α/g g=9sin2α/15

 

[tatiana_eggs]

Solution:
To have maximum range for a given initial velocity, her launch angle must be q0 = 45o. Her range then is R = (v02sin2q 0)/g' = v02sin90o/g' = v02/g'. We have g' = v02/R = 0.6m/s2.

Source: http://electron9.phys.utk.edu/phys135d/modules/m3/Projectile%20motion.htm

Scroll down to almost at the bottom of the page.

 

[drummerdimitr]

Thanks for clarifying things up. I never knew that launching a projectile at 45 degrees would result in the greatest maximum range.