Continuing with the golfing premise, the tutor finds the range of the projectile.

While this post continues from yesterday’s, its premise begins with my Oct 16 one.

We have a projectile whose horizontal velocity is 49m/s (see Oct 16), whose flight time is 5.2s (from yesterday).

The range of a projectile means how far it travels, horizontally, before landing. The golf ball will bounce and roll afterwards, but to us, that’s not part of the range.

High school physics generally neglects air resistance; therefore, we are as well. Then, the ball’s horizontal velocity remains a constant 49m/s throughout its flight. The range is given by

d=vt=49(5.2)=254.8m=250m (2 significant figures)

Finding the range of a projectile is easy once you know its horizontal velocity and flight time:)

Source:

Giancoli, Douglas C. Physics. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1998.

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.