Range is the horizontal distance traveled by a projectile from its launch point to the landing point. It depends on the initial velocity and angle of projection.
congrats on reading the definition of range. now let's actually learn it.
The range equation for a projectile launched on level ground is given by $R = \frac{v_0^2 \sin 2\theta}{g}$, where $v_0$ is the initial velocity, $\theta$ is the launch angle, and $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity.
Maximum range is achieved when the projectile is launched at a 45-degree angle.
Range does not depend on the mass of the projectile.
Air resistance is typically neglected in basic range calculations.
For non-level ground launches, additional calculations are needed to determine range.
Review Questions
What factors determine the range of a projectile?
At what launch angle is maximum range achieved?
How does air resistance affect basic range calculations?
Related terms
Projectile Motion: The motion of an object thrown or projected into the air, subject only to gravitational acceleration.
Initial Velocity: The velocity at which a projectile is launched; it has both magnitude and direction.
Launch Angle: The angle at which a projectile is launched with respect to the horizontal axis.