AS Daily A Level Physics question
In a school lab, a student uses a launcher to fire a rubber ball from ground level at a fixed angle to the horizontal. Air resistance is negligible. They double the launch speed while keeping the angle the same. Which outcome must occur?
Answer
The correct answer is B.
Correct: B — The horizontal range becomes four times larger. A The maximum height depends on the square of the vertical launch speed, so doubling the launch speed makes the maximum height four times larger, not twice. B Range on level ground at fixed angle depends on the square of the launch speed, so doubling the speed makes the range 4× (with air resistance neglected). C The time of flight scales with the vertical component of speed, so it doubles, not quadruples. D At a fixed angle, doubling the overall speed doubles both horizontal and vertical components, so the vertical component does not stay the same.