Final answer:
The initial angle that maximizes the range of a projectile is 45° if there is no air resistance. If air resistance is taken into account, the maximum angle for maximum range is approximately 38°. If the initial angle is not 45°, there are two angles that give the same range and the sum of those angles is 90°.
Step-by-step explanation:
The initial angle that maximizes the range of a projectile is 45°, assuming there is no air resistance.
This means that if a cannon is used to launch a projectile with a fixed initial speed, the maximum range will be achieved when the angle of launch is 45°.
However, if air resistance is taken into account, the maximum angle for maximum range is approximately 38°.
It is interesting to note that for every initial angle except 45°, there are two angles that give the same range and the sum of those angles is 90°.