Equation of trajectory for a projectile is y = 2x{1-(x/40)} (where x and y are in meter). What will be the range of the projectile?

1 Answer
Nov 1, 2016

Let the velocity of projection of the projectile in x-y plane from the origin (0,0) be u with angle of projection alphaα with the horizontal direction (x-axis).
The vertical component of the velocity (along y-axis) of projection is usinalphausinα and the horizontal component is ucosalphaucosα

Now if the time of flight be T then the object will return to the ground after T sec and during this T sec its total vertical displacement h will be zero. So applying the equation of motion under gravity we can write
h=usinalphaxxT+1/2gT^2h=usinα×T+12gT2
=>0=uxxT-1/2xxgxxT^20=u×T12×g×T2
where g="acceleration due to gravity"g=acceleration due to gravity
:.T=(2usinalpha)/g
The horizontal displacement during this T sec or the Range ,R=ucosalpha xxT

=>R=(2u^2sinalphacosalpha)/g...(1)

Let the position of the projectile in x-y plane after t sec of its projection be (x,y)

The horizontal displacement during t sec

x=ucosalphaxxt....(2)

And the vertical displacement during t sec

y=usinalphaxxt-1/2xxgxxt^2.....(3)

Combining (1) and (2) we get

y=usinalphaxxx/(ucosalpha)-(gx^2)/(2u^2cos^2alpha)

=>y=xtanalpha-x^2/((2u^2cos^2alpha)/g)....(4)

This is the equation of the trajectory,we obtained.

Now in the given problem the equation of the trajectory is

y=2x(1-x/40)

=>y=2x-x^2/20......(5)

Comparing (4) and (5) we get

tanalpha=2.....(6)

and

(2u^2cos^2alpha)/g=20.....(7)

Multiplying (6) by (7) we get

(tanalphaxx2u^2cos^2alpha)/g=2xx20

=>(2u^2sinalphacosalpha)/g=40

=>R=40

So Range of the projectile R=40m