Question

A projectile is fired with muzzle speed 250 m/s and an angle of elevation 45° from a position 30 m above ground level. Where does the projectile hit the ground and with what speed?

Answer 1

The projectile's horizontal and vertical positions at time $t$ are given by

$x=\left(250\dfrac{\rm m}{\rm s}\right)\cos45^\circ\,t$

$y=30\,\mathrm m+\left(250\dfrac{\rm m}{\rm s}\right)\sin45^\circ\,t-\dfrac g2t^2$

where $g=9.8\dfrac{\rm m}{\mathrm s^2}$. Solve $y=0$ for the time $t$ it takes for the projectile to reach the ground:

$30+\dfrac{250}{\sqrt2}t-4.9t^2=0\implies t\approx36.2458\,\mathrm s$

In this time, the projectile will have traveled horizontally a distance of

$x=\dfrac{250\frac{\rm m}{\rm s}}{\sqrt2}(36.2458\,\mathrm s)\approx6400\,\mathrm m$

The projectile's horizontal and vertical velocities are given by

$v_x=\left(250\dfrac{\rm m}{\rm s}\right)\cos45^\circ$

$v_y=\left(250\dfrac{\rm m}{\rm s}\right)\sin45^\circ-gt$

At the time the projectile hits the ground, its velocity vector has horizontal component approx. 176.77 m/s and vertical component approx. -178.43 m/s, which corresponds to a speed of about $\sqrt{176.77^2+(-178.43)^2}\dfrac{\rm m}{\rm s}\approx250\dfrac{\rm m}{\rm s}$.