AS Daily A Level Physics question
In a lab demo, a ball is launched from floor level with speed u at an angle θ to the horizontal (0° < θ < 90°). A second launch uses a different speed at the shallower angle θ/2 but is adjusted so that the maximum height is unchanged from the first. Air resistance is negligible and both land back at launch height. Compared to the first launch, what happens to the horizontal range in the second launch?
Answer
The correct answer is B.
Correct: B — B The range is larger; keeping maximum height fixes the flight time, and the shallower throw must have a larger horizontal speed. A The time of flight is set by the vertical motion (up taken as positive) and is unchanged when maximum height is the same, so a shallower angle does not reduce time here. B Correct because equal maximum height means the vertical component (and thus flight time) is the same, while halving the angle requires a higher launch speed that increases the horizontal component; in the limiting case θ close to 90°, halving to near 45° clearly gives a much larger horizontal distance. C Equal maximum height does not force equal horizontal speed; only the vertical component is fixed, so the range increases. D The outcome is determinate from component reasoning; no specific numbers are needed.