A projectile is shot at an angle of pi/3 and a velocity of 11 m/s. How far away will the projectile land?

1 Answer
Nov 5, 2017

It will land 10.7 m from its point of launch.

Explanation:

If you have the benefit of the following formula, the result is quickly obtained:

R=(v_o^2)/(g) sin2theta

R=(11^2)/19.6 sin (pi/3) = 121/9.8 (0.866) = 10.7 m

If you have not seen the above formula, it can be obtained through a (quite lengthy) calculation in which you use the equations of motion for a projectile, set up two equations in two unknowns, so that the time, t can be eliminated and solve for the distance x that the projectile moves horizontally. Many standard texts will show how this is done.

Wikipedia has the derivation here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_of_a_projectile