If a projectile is shot at a velocity of #11 m/s# and an angle of #pi/4#, how far will the projectile travel before landing?

1 Answer
Jul 11, 2017

#Deltax = 12.3# #"m"#

Explanation:

We're asked to find the horizontal range of a projectile given its initial speed and launch angle.

To do this, we can first find the time #t# when it has a height of #0#, using the equation

#Deltay = v_(0y)t - 1/2g t^2#

The initial #y#-velocity #v_(0y)# is

#v_(0y) = v_0sinalpha_0 = (11color(white)(l)"m/s")sin(pi/4) = 7.78# #"m/s"#

The change in height #Deltay# is #0#, because we're trying to find the time #t# at this height. Plugging in known values, we have

#0 = (7.78color(white)(l)"m/s")t - 1/2(9.81color(white)(l)"m/s"^2)t^2#

#(4.905color(white)(l)"m/s"^2)t^2 = (7.78color(white)(l)"m/s")t#

#(4.905color(white)(l)"m/s"^2)t = 7.78color(white)(l)"m/s"#

#t = color(red)(1.59# #color(red)("s"#

We can now use the equation

#Deltax = v_(0x)t#

to find the horizontal range, #Deltax#

The initial #x#-velocity #v_(0x)# is

#v_(0x) = v_0cosalpha_0 = (11color(white)(l)"m/s")cos(pi/4) = 7.78# #"m/s"#

We then have:

#Deltax = (7.78"m"/(cancel("s")))(1.59cancel("s")) = color(blue)(12.3# #color(blue)("m"#