# Projectile motion maximum range problem

1. Oct 9, 2013

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A projectile is fired at 30 km/h at the angle θ in x direction of an x-y plane. Ignoring the effects of air resistance, find the maximum
range and the value of θ that gives this range

Part A: write down the initial horizontal and vertical components
of the velocity

Part B: Write two equations to give the horizontal and vertical positions of the
projectile as functions of time in terms of the initial speed, and the initial
angle .

Part C: Use these equations to show that the time the projectile will remain
airborne is given by $t = \frac{2v}{g}sin\theta$ .

Part D: Hence show that the range is given by $\frac{2v^2}{g}sin(\theta)cos(\theta)$

Part E: Show, by differentiating, that the maximum horizontal distance will occur if fired at 45° and is given by $x_{max}=\frac{v^2}{g}$

2. Relevant equations
$$v=u+at \\ s=ut+\frac{1}{2}gt^2 \\$$

3. The attempt at a solution

Part A:
Horizontal - $vcos\theta$
Vertical - $vsin\theta$

Part B:
Horizontal - $vcos(\theta)t$
Vertical - $vsin(\theta)t+\frac{1}{2}gt^2$

Part C is where I am stuck. I understand it but when I done it before I did it a different way (i think).

When I did it before (last year) I used v=at so t=v/a so $t=\frac{vsin\theta}{g}$ but as that only gives it until the max height (halfway through) it needs to be times by two and hence $t=\frac{2v}{g}sin\theta$

But the question says to use what I did in Part B and im not sure how that is done.

Part D: that is straightforward, just substituting what is found as t in Part C into the horizontal bit of Part B.

Part E: This part has my head spinning at the moment.

Last edited: Oct 10, 2013
2. Oct 9, 2013

### arildno

On C:
At the time of solution, T, y=0, therefore, T satisfies which equation?

3. Oct 9, 2013

### arildno

E:
You are to find maximal range. The range is given as a function of the angle v.
Hint:
It is easiest to first rewrite the expression for the range using the trig identity sin(v)cos(v)=1/2sin(2v)

4. Oct 9, 2013

### Maiq

If you divided your vertical position by your horizontal position what would you have? (Hint: its a trig function)

5. Oct 9, 2013

OK I think I see what you mean, like this?

$$0=vsin(\theta)t-\frac{1}{2}gt^2 \\ \frac{1}{2}gt^2=vsin(\theta)t \\ \frac{\frac{1}{2}gt^2}{t}=vsin(\theta) \\ \frac{1}{2}gt=vsin(\theta) \\ gt=2vsin(\theta) \\ t=\frac{2vsin(\theta)}{g} \\ t=\frac{2v}{g}sin(\theta)$$

6. Oct 9, 2013

### arildno

That's absolutely right!

General cautionary note:
Note that when you divided by "t", you lost one solution, namely t=0 (that is of course, the INITIAL y-position, so it isn't really relevant here, but you should not make a habit to divide with a quantity that MIGHT be 0)

7. Oct 9, 2013

$vtan(\theta)t-\frac{1}{2}gt^2$ ?

8. Oct 9, 2013

I think I may have done it. Withoutusing that identity though so not sure how succint it is.

$$\frac{2v^2}{g}sin\theta cos\theta \\ for 0<= \theta <=90$$
then using the product rule
$$\frac{2v^2}{g}(-sin\theta sin\theta+cos\theta cos\theta)=0 \\ \frac{2v^2}{g}(-sin^2\theta+cos^2\theta)=0 \\$$
dividing by the fraction on the left then gets
$$-sin^2\theta+cos^2\theta=0 \\ cos^2\theta=sin^2\theta$$
then divide both sides by the cos^2
$$\frac{cos^2\theta}{cos^2\theta}=\frac{sin^2\theta}{cos^2\theta} \\ 1=(\frac{sin\theta}{cos\theta})^2 \\ 1=tan^2\theta \\ 1=tan\theta \\ tan^{-1}(1)=45$$

Last edited: Oct 9, 2013
9. Oct 9, 2013

### Maiq

Never mind, this equation doesn't seem to work. What I was trying to do was use sin(θ)=y/x. I now realize that the θ in this sin(θ) changes with time, while the angle θ is constant in the position equations.

10. Oct 9, 2013

### Maiq

Ok so it does work actually but you would have to use sin($\frac{dθ}{dt}$)=$\frac{y}{x}$. Since the angle you start with will be the same as the angle at the end, $\frac{dθ}{dt}$=0 therefore sin($\frac{dθ}{dt}$)=0. So you end up with

0=$\frac{vsin(θ)t-(1/2)gt^{2}}{vcos(θ)t}$=tan(θ)-$\frac{gt}{2vcos(θ)}$

then

$\frac{gt}{2vcos(θ)}$=tan(θ)

t=$\frac{2v}{g}$sin(θ)

Its a little more complicated but it still works.

11. Oct 9, 2013

### arildno

That's perfectly okay!
But, rewriting:
$$Range=\frac{v^{2}}{g}\sin(2\theta)$$
Differentiate, and set equal to zero:
$$0=\frac{2v^{2}}{g}\cos(2\theta)$$
That is,
$$\cos(2\theta)=0$$
from which the same result follows!