Related Formula
The time of flight T$T$ of a projectile launched with speed u$u$ at an angle θ$\theta$ with the horizontal is:
T = (2u θ)/(g)$$T = \frac{2u \sin\theta}{g}$$Core Logic
The launch angles of the two projectiles are:
$
Core Logic
The launch angles of the two projectiles are:
$θ₁ = 45^° + α$\theta_1 = 45^\circ + \alpha$$
$θ₂ = 45^° - α$\theta_2 = 45^\circ - \alpha$Since they have the same speed
$
Since they have the same speed $
u
:$:
$(T₁)/(T₂) = ( (45^° + α))/( (45^° - α))$\frac{T_1}{T_2} = \frac{\sin(45^\circ + \alpha)}{\sin(45^\circ - \alpha)}$Step 1: Simplify Trigonometric Ratio
Using the angle sum and difference formulas:
$
Step 1: Simplify Trigonometric Ratio
Using the angle sum and difference formulas:
$(T₁)/(T₂) = ( 45^° α + 45^° α)/( 45^° α - 45^° α)$\frac{T_1}{T_2} = \frac{\sin 45^\circ \cos \alpha + \cos 45^\circ \sin \alpha}{\sin 45^\circ \cos \alpha - \cos 45^\circ \sin \alpha}$$
$(T₁)/(T₂) = 1√(2) α + 1√(2) α 1√(2) α - 1√(2) α = ( α + α)/( α - α)$\frac{T_1}{T_2} = \frac{\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\cos\alpha + \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\sin\alpha}{\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\cos\alpha - \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\sin\alpha} = \frac{\cos\alpha + \sin\alpha}{\cos\alpha - \sin\alpha}$Divide numerator and denominator by
$
Divide numerator and denominator by $
\cos\alpha
:$:
$(T₁)/(T₂) = (1 + α)/(1 - α)$\frac{T_1}{T_2} = \frac{1 + \tan\alpha}{1 - \tan\alpha}$$
Pattern Recognition
Sees: Projectile angles complementary to
$
Pattern Recognition
Sees: Projectile angles complementary to $
45^\circ
. Shortcut: Remember the identity$.
Shortcut: Remember the identity $\tan(45^\circ + \alpha) = \frac{1+\tan\alpha}{1-\tan\alpha}
. Since complementary angles have sine ratios proportional to$. Since complementary angles have sine ratios proportional to $\sin(45^\circ + \alpha)/\sin(45^\circ - \alpha) = \tan(45^\circ + \alpha)
, the answer is directly$, the answer is directly $\frac{1+\tan\alpha}{1-\tan\alpha}$.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Physics: Motion in a Plane