Question

Why is it that when I plug angles 30 and 60 into the range formula: v^2sin(2*theta)/g that it results in the same answer?

Answer 1

The exact question is Explain qualitatively why an angle above 45 degrees would result in the same range as the same angle below 45 degrees?

Answer 2

To show what is going on quantitatively you must use the equations. But qualitatively, as you increase the angle to A degrees above 45º, you increase the vertical component of the velocity at the expense of the horizontal velocity. That means you are going up faster, but moving sideways slower. However, the faster you go up, the longer it takes for gravity to slow you down. So you stay in the air a longer time. So, even though you go slower sideways you have longer time. It turns out this distance matches exactly the condition where you go at an angle A degrees less than 45º, where you go faster sideways, but don't stay in the air as long.

Answer 3

thanks