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Suppose a rocket is launched at a 15° angle with an initial velocity of 200 feet per second. Find the exact distance the rocket will travel.

User Madhivanan
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1 Answer

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Answer:

625 ft

Explanation:

We assume ballistic motion, which would be a bit unusual for a rocket.

The horizontal distance traveled in time t is ...

x = 200·cos(15°)·t

The vertical position at time t is ...

y = -16t^2 +200·sin(15°)t

Substituting for t using the first equation, this becomes ...

y = -16(x/(200·cos(15°)))^2 +200·sin(15°)(x/(200·cos(15°)))

Setting y=0 and factoring out x, we get ...

0 = x(-16x/(40000cos(15°)^2) +sin(15°)/cos(15°))

Multiplying by 2cos(15°)^2/x, this becomes ...

0 = -32x/40000 +2sin(15°)cos(15°)

or ...

sin(30°) = x(32/40000) = x/1250

1250·sin(30°) = x = 625 . . . . . feet

The rocket will travel 625 feet.

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Comment on the general solution

To summarize the general result here,

x = v^2·sin(2θ)/32

where x is the distance traveled, v is the initial velocity, and θ is the launch angle. The trajectory is assumed to be from ground level to ground level.

User Avi Levin
by
5.1k points
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