A simple solution for maximum range of projectile motion

Bons Bui Citation: The Physics Teacher 51, 52 (2013); doi: 10.1119/1.4772041 View online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.4772041 View Table of Contents: http://scitation.aip.org/content/aapt/journal/tpt/51/1?ver=pdfcov Published by the American Association of Physics Teachers

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Trick of the Trade

A simple solution for maximum range of projectile motion

Boris Buic, boris_busic@yahoo.com
fair amount of effort has been spent on the formulation of a simple, preferably noncalculusbased, solution for the maximum range, Rmax, of the projectile fired with speed v0 from an elevation y0. Here is a solution along the lines of the textbook treatment of the projectile motion. If the projectile is fired from the point (x0 = 0, y0) at an angle with respect to the x-axis, its trajectory is described by (1) With the observation that the projectile hits the ground at y = 0, the relation between the firing angle and the range of the projectile, R = x (y = 0), is given by

from which one may recognize that the square of the range is a quadratic function of (R tan ), (3)

This observation solves the problem since the parabola R2 (R tan ) has the maximum at (4)

.
Thus the range of the projectile is maximum for the firing angle

(5)

(6)

(7)

(2)
DOI: 10.1119/1.4772041

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In the February issue, we will look at sources physics teachers can use to answer their questions about physics content. Susan White is Research Manager in the Statistical Research Center at the American Institute of Physics; she directs the Nationwide Survey of High School Physics Teachers. If you have any questions, please contact Susan at swhite@aip.org.
DOI: 10.1119/1.4772042

This article is copyrighted as indicated in the abstract. Reuse of AAPT content is subject to the terms at: http://scitation.aip.org/termsconditions. Downloaded to IP: 193.146.96.26 On: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 18:59:37

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THE PHYSICS TEACHER Vol. 51, JANUARY 2013