Math Problem Statement

You buy a plastic dart gun, and being a clever physics student you decide to do a quick calculation to find its maximum horizontal range. You shoot the gun straight up, and it takes 4.4 s s for the dart to land back at the barrel. What is the maximum possible horizontal range that could be achieved by your gun, assuming the dart lands at the same level it started? Express your answer using two significant figures and include the appropriate units.

Solution

To find the maximum possible horizontal range of the dart gun, we can follow these steps:

  1. Determine the initial vertical velocity: The total time it takes for the dart to travel up and back down is 4.4 seconds. Since this is a projectile motion problem, the time to reach the maximum height is half of the total time. Therefore, the time to reach the maximum height is:

    tup=4.42=2.2secondst_{\text{up}} = \frac{4.4}{2} = 2.2 \, \text{seconds}

    Using the equation for vertical motion under constant acceleration due to gravity (g=9.8m/s2g = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2):

    v0y=gtupv_{0y} = g \cdot t_{\text{up}}

    where v0yv_{0y} is the initial vertical velocity. Substituting the known values:

    v0y=9.8m/s2×2.2seconds=21.56m/sv_{0y} = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \times 2.2 \, \text{seconds} = 21.56 \, \text{m/s}

  2. Determine the maximum horizontal range: The maximum horizontal range is achieved when the dart is launched at a 4545^\circ angle. At this angle, the horizontal and vertical components of the initial velocity are equal.

    The total initial velocity v0v_0 is related to the vertical component v0yv_{0y} by the following equation (since at a 4545^\circ angle, v0x=v0yv_{0x} = v_{0y}):

    v0=v0ysin45=21.5622=30.48m/sv_0 = \frac{v_{0y}}{\sin 45^\circ} = \frac{21.56}{\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}} = 30.48 \, \text{m/s}

  3. Calculate the range: The range RR of a projectile is given by the equation:

    R=v02sin2θgR = \frac{v_0^2 \sin 2\theta}{g}

    For a 4545^\circ launch angle, sin2θ=sin90=1\sin 2\theta = \sin 90^\circ = 1. Substituting the values:

    R=30.4829.8=929.069.8=94.8mR = \frac{30.48^2}{9.8} = \frac{929.06}{9.8} = 94.8 \, \text{m}

So, the maximum horizontal range is:

95m\boxed{95 \, \text{m}}

Let me know if you want further details or have any questions!


Here are 5 relative questions for further practice:

  1. What would the range be if the gun was shot at an angle of 30 degrees?
  2. How does air resistance affect the maximum range of the dart?
  3. What is the maximum height the dart reaches when shot vertically upward?
  4. How would the range change if gravity on Earth was different, say on the Moon?
  5. What is the effect of the mass of the dart on the range?

Tip: For projectiles, a 45° launch angle provides the maximum horizontal range in a vacuum.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Projectile motion
Kinematics
Trigonometry

Formulas

v_0 = v_{0y} / sin(45°)
R = (v_0^2 * sin(2θ)) / g
v_{0y} = g * t_{up}

Theorems

Maximum range for projectile at 45° angle

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 10-12