Physics Question

[Acylum]

If you were in a contest to see who could shoot a bullet the farthest, under the exact same conditions, what is the optimum angle you would want to aim your gun? I originally assumed it would always be 45 degrees but now I'm not so sure. Also, would any conditions (headwind, tailwind, crosswind, humidity, rain, etc) affect the answer? Keep it simple, my physics knowledge is nonexistent. This topic came up recently among a group of friends. Also, would the answer be the same for throwing a ball, or launching an object that has some form of temporary propulsion, like a bottle rocket?

 

[3TrueFans]

The plane takes off.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

All would depend on the natural ballistics of the ammunition selected.

 

[BCClone]

Whatever angle you would need to pick off the other contestant. You win if you are the only one who finishes.......right?

 

[CtownCyclone]

I don't want to think tonight, but yes, all of the variables you listed would make a difference. Also, where are you at? Earth? The moon? An asteroid?

 

[mj4cy]

you'd need to draw a free body diagram. Your x and y components are independent of each other as well. Also have to take into account air resistance.

 

[Dopey]

Straight horizontal, right? No use wasting energy going up when you’re trying to go far

 

[Clonefan94]

The plane takes off.

I'd definitely be shooting from a treadmill.

 

[06_CY]

Whatever angle you would need to pick off the other contestant. You win if you are the only one who finishes.......right?

This is the answer. Shoot the other person, win by default.

 

[mynameisjonas]

 

[PSYclone22]

No air resistance, gravity: 45 degrees.
Air resistance, gravity: slightly less than 45 degrees.
Air resistance, no gravity: Where the f*** are you?
No air resistance, no gravity: away from the ground.

 

[Acylum]

I don't want to think tonight, but yes, all of the variables you listed would make a difference. Also, where are you at? Earth? The moon? An asteroid?

Earth.

 

[aauummm]

Calculating Projectile Trajectory

Using the parabolic trajectory equation you will get an answer of 45 degrees for maximum range. In real life this would then have to be adjusted for environmental conditions and projectile characteristics. In most cases, for any given exit angle the muzzle velocity of the bullet will have the most effect on maximum range.

 

[VTXCyRyD]

If you were in a contest to see who could shoot a bullet the farthest, under the exact same conditions, what is the optimum angle you would want to aim your gun? I originally assumed it would always be 45 degrees but now I'm not so sure. Also, would any conditions (headwind, tailwind, crosswind, humidity, rain, etc) affect the answer? Keep it simple, my physics knowledge is nonexistent. This topic came up recently among a group of friends. Also, would the answer be the same for throwing a ball, or launching an object that has some form of temporary propulsion, like a bottle rocket?

The best way to solve this is with a tape measure, a rifle, and a couple of cases of beer.

 

[madguy30]

For some reason I'm thinking <45 degrees would go further but I might also be thinking of water balloon launchers which all sorts of variables are taken into place.

Also air/wind resistance might depend on size and type of bullet. Like I'd think a deer slug would struggle more in the wind than a true rifle shell.

 

[VeloClone]

 

[BCClone]

The day I took my ISU visit in HS my HS physics class worked on this problem but with bow and arrows. They went outside and shot some (a classmate was a national champion archer so he brought his stuff). The foreign exchange student solved that the farthest to get people to run is shoot it straight up in the air. Classmates told me it was pure chaos after he shot it straight up. Literally running for their lives.

So straight up isnt the answer.

 

[NWICY]

The day I took my ISU visit in HS my HS physics class worked on this problem but with bow and arrows. They went outside and shot some (a classmate was a national champion archer so he brought his stuff). The foreign exchange student solved that the farthest to get people to run is shoot it straight up in the air. Classmates told me it was pure chaos after he shot it straight up. Literally running for their lives.

So straight up isnt the answer.

I gave it a like for the national archer, but the foreign exchange student thing made me LOL.

 

[cyphoon]

If you were in a contest to see who could shoot a bullet the farthest, under the exact same conditions, what is the optimum angle you would want to aim your gun? I originally assumed it would always be 45 degrees but now I'm not so sure.

This cool video on kicking talks about 45 degrees being optimal without taking into account drag, but wind resistance drops the optimum down to 40 degrees. I would expect a bullet to be closer to 45.

Link jumps to 10:47 where they talk about angle of trajectory.



H

 

[cdface]

This cool video on kicking talks about 45 degrees being optimal without taking into account drag, but wind resistance drops the optimum down to 40 degrees. I would expect a bullet to be closer to 45.

Link jumps to 10:47 where they talk about angle of trajectory.



H

this is the correct answer: somewhere between 40 and 45 degrees up from the ground (the exact angle depends on the properties of the bullet/gun/wind).