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AS Daily A Level Physics question

2026-01-24 OCR A Projectile motion (Module 3: Kinematics) OCR A (H156) Module 3.1.2 Motion — equations of motion (suvat); projectile motion (range and time for launch at angle)

A student fires identical foam pellets from a bench at the same launch speed but at two angles: 30° and 60° to the horizontal. Air resistance is negligible and the pellets land at the same height as launch. Which statement must be true about the horizontal range R and the time of flight T?

  1. A R at 60° is larger than at 30°, and T is the same for both angles.
  2. B R at 30° is larger than at 60°, and T is the same for both angles.
  3. C R is the same for both angles, and T is the same for both angles.
  4. D R is the same for both angles, and T at 60° is about 1.7 times T at 30°. (correct)

Answer

The correct answer is D.

Correct: D — R is the same for both angles, and T at 60° is about 1.7 times T at 30°. A R is not larger at 60° for equal launch speeds; complementary angles (30° and 60°) give the same range, and time is not the same because the vertical component differs. B Similarly, 30° does not give a larger range than 60° at the same speed, and the times are not equal. C While the ranges are equal, the times are not: T ∝ sinθ so T60/T30 = sin60°/sin30° ≈ 0.866/0.5 ≈ 1.7. D True because range depends on sin(2θ), giving equal R for 30° and 60°, and the time ratio follows from the vertical component of launch speed.

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