Question

A projectile is launched at 60 degrees to the horizontal. From launch to landing back down takes 4s. How far does it go horizontally?

A) 0 meters
B) Not enough information to determine
C) The horizontal distance depends on the launch speed
D) It depends on the launch angle

Answer 1

The horizontal distance a projectile travels depends on its launch speed. Without the initial velocity, the exact distance cannot be determined. The horizontal velocity component is constant and, when multiplied by the time in the air, gives the distance traveled.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student asked how far a projectile will travel horizontally if it is launched at a 60-degree angle and takes 4 seconds to land back down. The correct answer is C) The horizontal distance depends on the launch speed. To solve this, you would need to know the initial speed of the projectile. Without this information, the exact horizontal distance cannot be determined.

Once the initial velocity is known, the horizontal component of the velocity (Ux) would remain constant throughout the projectile's flight because there is no acceleration in the horizontal direction (assuming air resistance is negligible). You would then multiply the constant horizontal velocity by the time the projectile is in the air to find the horizontal distance traveled.