(a) Show that for a projectile the angle between the velocity

Question.

(a) Show that for a projectile the angle between the velocity and the x-axis as a function of time is given by

$\theta(t)=\tan ^{-1}\left(\frac{v_{0 y}-\mathrm{g} t}{v_{0 x}}\right)$

(b) Show that the projection angle $\theta_{0}$ for a projectile launched from the origin is given by

$\theta_{0}=\tan ^{-1}\left(\frac{4 h_{m}}{R}\right)$

Where the symbols have their usual meaning.

solution:

(a) Let $v_{0 x}$ and $v_{0 y}$ respectively be the initial components of the velocity of the projectile along horizontal $(x)$ and vertical $(y)$ directions.

Let $v_{x}$ and $v_{y}$ respectively be the horizontal and vertical components of velocity at a point $\mathrm{P}$.

(a) Show that for a projectile the angle between the velocity and the x-axis as a function of time is given by

Time taken by the projectile to reach point P = t

Applying the first equation of motion along the vertical and horizontal directions, we get:

$v_{y}=v_{0 y}=\mathrm{g} t$

And $v_{x}=v_{0 x}$

$\therefore \tan \theta=\frac{v_{y}}{v_{x}}=\frac{v_{0 y}-\mathrm{g} t}{v_{0 x}}$

$\theta=\tan ^{-1}\left(\frac{v_{0 y}-\mathrm{g} t}{v_{0 x}}\right)$

(b) Maximum vertical height, $h_{m}=\frac{u_{0}^{2} \sin ^{2} \theta}{2 g} \quad \ldots(i)$

Horizontal range, $R=\frac{u_{0}^{2} \sin 2 \theta}{g} \quad \ldots(i i)$

Solving equations (i) and (ii), we get:

$\frac{h_{m}}{R}=\frac{\sin ^{2} \theta}{2 \sin 2 \theta}=\frac{\sin ^{2} \theta}{4 \sin \theta \cos \theta}=\frac{\sin \theta}{4 \cos \theta}$

$\Rightarrow \frac{h_{m}}{R}=\frac{\operatorname{Tan} \theta}{4}$

$\Rightarrow \theta=\operatorname{Tan}^{-1}\left(\frac{4 h_{m}}{R}\right)$

Leave a comment

Close

Click here to get exam-ready with eSaral

For making your preparation journey smoother of JEE, NEET and Class 8 to 10, grab our app now.

Download Now