Launch angle: which angle flies farthest

What the experiment shows

Three balls are launched at the same 7 m/s but at different angles. 45° gives the longest range, while 30° and 60° land at the same distance.

How to run it

1. Run it — the balls leave trails showing their paths.
2. Compare the ranges: which two balls landed close together?
3. In the editor change the velocity (vx, vy) and find a throw that hits the target.

Questions to discuss

• Why do 30° and 60° give the same range?
• What changes if the launch speed doubles?

The science

Motion splits into horizontal (uniform) and vertical (accelerated by g) parts. Range R = v²·sin(2α)/g, maximal at α = 45°. Angles α and 90° − α give the same range.

Try it at home

Play with a garden-hose water stream: vary the angle and see where it reaches farthest. Or toss a ball into a basket from different spots.

What to change in the editor

• Add a wall and a target at a given distance.
• Set g = 1.6 and see how much farther the balls fly.