Projectile Motion launch angles

AI Thread Summary
A projectile is launched such that its maximum height is four times its horizontal range, leading to a calculation for the launch angle. The initial attempt yielded an angle of 86 degrees, which was incorrect, as the expected answer is 38.66 degrees. The calculations involved setting the height equal to four times the range and manipulating trigonometric identities. A misinterpretation of the problem statement was suspected, but confirmation from a tutor revealed that the answer key was incorrect due to a change in the problem. This highlights the importance of verifying problem statements and answers in physics homework.
Jon.G
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Homework Statement



A projectile is fired in such a way that its maximum height is a factor of 4 times its
horizontal range. Find the launch angle in degrees

Homework Equations


h_{max}=\frac{V^{2}_{0}sin^{2}\theta}{2g}<br /> Range=\frac{V^{2}_{0}sin2\theta}{g}

The Attempt at a Solution



I set h=4R giving
sin^{2}(\theta)=8sin(2\theta);
sin^{2}(\theta)=16sin(\theta)cos(\theta);
sin(\theta)=16cos(\theta);
tan(\theta)=16
\theta=86^{o}
but the answer is apparently 38.66 degrees.

So I assumed that I had misinterpreted the question, and in fact R=4h, however doing this I got an angle of 45 degrees.
I'm not sure where I've gone wrong
 
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Hi Jon.G. Welcome to Physics Forums.

Given the problem statement as it stands your interpretation and calculations look fine to me (using a bit more precision, θ = 86.42°). Are you quoting the problem statement exactly? It could be that they changed the problem statement slightly, to make it a "new" question, but failed to change the answer key.
 
I emailed my tutor and that is exactly what happened :)
 
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