Question

A cannon, whose muzzle is at ground level and elevated at 45 degree, launches a cannon ball with an initial speed of 86 m/s. A) Find the range of the cannon ball. B) Find the time-of-flight of the ball. C) If the launch angle were greater than 45 degree, would the range increase? Explain.

Answer 1

a) R = sin 2θ * V^2 / g known as the range formula

R = 86^2 / 9.80 = 755 m for a projectile at 45 deg (sin 2Θ = 1)

b) Vx = V cos 45 = 60.8 m/s horizontal speed of projectile

t = 755 m 60.8 m/s = 12.4 sec time-of-flight

c) the range formula shows the maximum range occurs at 45 deg

sin 2θ is less than 1 and decreases for angles at 45-90