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DA asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 10 years ago

Projectile Motion difference between Cosθ*v * t and R=v^2/g * sin2θ?

To calculate the distance of a projectile, which equation do I use? What is the difference between the two?

Cosθ*v * t

or

R=v^2/g * sin2θ

Update:

What exactly is range? Wouldn't Cosθ*v * t give the same result?

1 Answer

Relevance
  • Ossi G
    Lv 7
    10 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Hello

    R = v0^2/g*sin(2Θ) gives you the range when you know v0 and the angle.

    it is obtained by setting y = 0 and solving for x in the trajectory equation

    y = tan(angle)*x -gx^2/(2v0^2cos^2(angle))

    cos(angle)*v0 is the horizontal velocity component of the initial velocity.

    And t is the total time that the object is in the air.

    According to s = v*t, (cos(angle)*v)*t gives you the horizontal distance moved by the object in time t.

    You can use this equation, when you know v0, the angle, and t, the time of flight.

    Or you can use this equation to find 1 of the three unknowns, when you know two of them.

    Regards

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