4.32 (a) Show that for a projectile the angle between the velocity and the x-axis as a function of time is given by

θ(t)=tan1v0ygtv0x

(b) Shows that the projection angle θ0 for a projectile launched from the origin is given by

θ0=tan14henR

where the symbols have their usual meaning.

NEETprep Answer:
 
Let v0xandv0y respectively be the initial components of the velocity of the projectile along horizontal (x) and vertical (y) directions.
 
Let vxandvy respectively be the horizontal and vertical components of velocity at a point P.
 
 
Time is taken by the projectile to reach point P = t
Applying the first equation of motion along with the vertical and horizontal directions, we get:
 
vy=v0y=gt And vx=v0xtanθ=vyvx=v0ygtv0xθ=tan1(v0ygtv0x)
Maximum vertical height hm=u02sin22θ2g...i
 
Horizontal range,R=u02sin22θg...ii
Solving equations (i) and (ii), we get:
 
hmR=sin2θ2sin2θ=sinθ×sinθ2×2sinθcosθ=14sinθcosθ=14tanθtanθ=(4hmR)θ=tan1(4hmR)