Students investigate how launch angle affects the horizontal range of a tennis ball…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
Students investigate how launch angle affects the horizontal range of a tennis ball fired at a constant initial speed of 14.0m/s from ground level. Air resistance is small but not negligible. The measured data are shown below (each range value is the average of several trials).
Angle θ (degrees): 15 25 35 45 55 65 75
Range R (m): 7.8 12.9 16.0 16.5 15.9 12.5 6.6
(a) Using the data, identify the launch angle that produced the greatest range and state that range.
(b) Derive an expression for the horizontal range of a projectile launched from level ground at speed v and angle θ, assuming negligible air resistance.
(c) Using your result from part (b), calculate the theoretical launch angle that maximizes the range and find the corresponding theoretical maximum range for v=14.0m/s.
(d) Compare the theoretical predictions from part (c) with the experimental results in part (a). Discuss at least two plausible reasons for any differences.
(e) Propose one specific modification to the experimental setup that could reduce the discrepancy between theory and experiment, and justify how it would help.