Projectile Range Symmetry Proof

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving that a projectile launched at an angle @ has the same horizontal range as one launched at angle (90 - @) with the same speed. The subject area is kinematics, specifically focusing on projectile motion and range calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss decomposing the initial velocity into vertical and horizontal components, questioning the relationships between sine and cosine functions in this context. There are attempts to calculate the time of flight and range based on these components.

Discussion Status

Some participants are providing insights into the decomposition of velocity and its implications for the projectile's range. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between the trigonometric functions involved, but no consensus has been reached on the approach to the proof.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating through the kinematic equations and trigonometric identities, with some expressing uncertainty about the relationships between the angles and their sine and cosine values.

peasant242
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Homework Statement



Prove that a projectile launched at angle @ has the same horizontal range as one launched with the same speed at angle (90 - @).

Homework Equations



Obviously kinematics will be used =/

The Attempt at a Solution



I've been messing around with kinematics but haven't gotten anywhere. I also know that sin(90-@) = cos(@) . Help appreciated :]
 
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let the initial speed be V, and decomposite into V_y=Vsin@ and V_x=Vcos@. Now use this to first calculate the time the projectile is in the air and then the range of the projectile.
 
I appreciate the help but when you decomposite the V wouldn't it be:

V_y = sin(90-@)
V_x = cos(@)
 
uhm no, you said yourself that sin(90-@)=cos@, so that would give V_y=V_x :)
 

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