Two projectiles are fired with same initial speed from same point on ground at angles of (45° - α) and (45° + α) , respectively, with the horizontal direction. The ratio of their maximum heights attained is :

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula
H = (u² ² θ)/(2g)
Core Logic

Let θ₁ = 45° - α and θ₂ = 45° + α. The ratio of maximum heights is:

(H₁)/(H₂) = ²(45° - α) ²(45° + α)
Step 1: Simplify Trigonometric Terms
(45° ± α) = 1√(2) α ± 1√(2) α (H₁)/(H₂) = (( α - α)²)/(( α + α)²) = ( ²α + ²α - 2 α α)/( ²α + ²α + 2 α α) = (1 - 2α)/(1 + 2α)
Pattern Recognition

For complementary angles shifted symmetric to 45°, ratios simplify cleanly via 2α identities.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Motion in a Plane

More Motion in a Plane Previous-Year Questions — Page 3

Q25 jee_main_2025_02_april_morning Motion in a Straight Line
A person travelling on a straight line moves with a uniform velocity v₁ for a distance x and with a uniform velocity v₂ for the next (3)/(2)x distance. The average velocity in this motion is (50)/(7)~m/s. If v₁ is 5~m/s then v₂ = ____ m/s.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 10 to 10

Solution

Related Formula
vavg = Total DistanceTotal Time
Core Logic

Let's find the time taken for each section of the motion:

  • First section of distance x with velocity v₁ = 5~m/s:
t₁ = (x)/(v₁) = (x)/(5)
  • Second section of distance (3)/(2)x with velocity v₂:
t₂ = (3x/2)/(v₂) = (3x)/(2v₂)

Total distance is:

dtotal = x + (3)/(2)x = (5)/(2)x

Average velocity is:

vavg = dtotalt₁ + t₂ = ((5)/(2)x)/((x)/(5) + (3x)/(2v₂))

We are given vavg = (50)/(7)~m/s. Equating the two values (noting x cancels out):

(50)/(7) = ((5)/(2))/((1)/(5) + (3)/(2v₂))

Divide both sides by 5:

(10)/(7) = ((1)/(2))/((1)/(5) + (3)/(2v₂)) 10 ((1)/(5) + (3)/(2v₂)) = (7)/(2) 2 + (15)/(v₂) = 3.5 (15)/(v₂) = 1.5 v₂ = (15)/(1.5) = 10~m/s
Step 1: Final Conclusion

The velocity v₂ is 10~m/s.

Pattern Recognition

Never take simple arithmetic averages of velocities! Average velocity must always be calculated as Total DistanceTotal Time. Because total distance and time intervals are proportional to x, x cleanly cancels out.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Kinematics

Q11 jee_main_2025_03_april_evening Projectile Motion
A particle is projected with velocity u so that its horizontal range is three times the maximum height attained by it. The horizontal range of the projectile is given as (nu²)/(25g) , where value of n is: (Given ' g' is the acceleration due to gravity).
  • A. 6
  • B. 18
  • C. 12
  • D. 24

Solution

Related Formula

For a projectile with launch speed u and angle θ:

  • Horizontal Range:
R = (u² (2θ))/(g) = (2 u² θ θ)/(g)
  • Maximum Height:
H = (u² ²θ)/(2g)

The general ratio linking range and maximum height is:

θ = (4H)/(R)
Core Logic

Given state:

R = 3H ⇒ (H)/(R) = (1)/(3)
Step 1: Determine the projection angle (θ)

Substitute the ratio into the relation:

θ = 4 ((H)/(R)) = 4 ((1)/(3)) = (4)/(3)

This is a standard Pythagorean triangle angle:

θ = (4)/(5), θ = (3)/(5)
Step 2: Compute the horizontal range (R)
R = (2 u² θ θ)/(g) R = (2 u² ((4)/(5)) ((3)/(5)))/(g) = (24 u²)/(25 g)

Comparing this with the given format (nu²)/(25g):

n = 24

Pattern Recognition

The relation θ = 4H/R is an essential identity in projectile dynamics. Whenever R = k H, then θ = 4/k. Recognizing standard angles like θ = 4/3 or 3/4 directly yields trigonometric values immediately.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Motion in a Plane

Q14 jee_main_2025_03_april_evening Kinematics and Derivative Relations
A particle moves along the x-axis and has its displacement x varying with time t according to the equation x=c₀(t²-2)+c(t-2)² where c₀ and c are constants of appropriate dimensions. Then, which of the following statements is correct?
  • A. the acceleration of the particle is 2c₀
  • B. the acceleration of the particle is 2c
  • C. the initial velocity of the particle is 4c
  • D. the acceleration of the particle is 2(c+c₀)

Solution

Related Formula

In rectilinear kinematics:

  • Velocity:
v = (dx)/(dt)
  • Acceleration:
a = (dv)/(dt) = (d²x)/(dt²)
Core Logic

Given position-time function:

x(t) = c₀ (t² - 2) + c (t - 2)²
Step 1: Differentiate once to get velocity (
$
v = (dx)/(dt) = (d)/(dt)[c₀(t² - 2)] + (d)/(dt)[c(t-2)²]v = c₀ (2t) + c · 2(t-2) = 2 c₀ t + 2 c(t - 2)
Step 2: Differentiate again to get acceleration (
$
a = (dv)/(dt) = (d)/(dt)[2 c₀ t + 2 c(t - 2)]a = 2 c₀ + 2 c = 2(c + c₀)

This shows acceleration is constant and equals

This shows acceleration is constant and equals $2(c + c_0), matching Statement (4).

Pattern Recognition

Whenever a position function is a pure quadratic polynomial in

Pattern Recognition

Whenever a position function is a pure quadratic polynomial in $t, the acceleration is constant and equal to2 \timesthe coefficient of thet^2term. Rewritingx(t):

x(t) = (c₀ + c)t² - 4ct + (4c - 2c₀)

The coefficient of

The coefficient of $t^2is(c_0 + c). Thus, acceleration is2(c_0 + c)$ directly.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Motion in a Straight Line

Q12 jee_main_2025_07_april_morning Projectile Motion
Two projectiles are fired from ground with same initial speeds from same point at angles (45° + α) and (45° - α) with horizontal direction. The ratio of their times of flights is
  • A. 1
  • B. (1 - α)/(1 + α)
  • C. (1 + 2α)/(1 - 2α)
  • D. (1 + α)/(1 - α)

Solution

Related Formula

The time of flight T of a projectile launched with speed u at an angle θ with the horizontal is:

T = (2u θ)/(g)
Core Logic

The launch angles of the two projectiles are:

θ₁ = 45^° + αθ₂ = 45^° - α

Since they have the same speed

Since they have the same speed $u:

(T₁)/(T₂) = ( (45^° + α))/( (45^° - α))
Step 1: Simplify Trigonometric Ratio

Using the angle sum and difference formulas:

(T₁)/(T₂) = ( 45^° α + 45^° α)/( 45^° α - 45^° α)(T₁)/(T₂) = 1√(2) α + 1√(2) α 1√(2) α - 1√(2) α = ( α + α)/( α - α)

Divide numerator and denominator by

Divide numerator and denominator by $\cos\alpha:

(T₁)/(T₂) = (1 + α)/(1 - α)$
Pattern Recognition

Sees: Projectile angles complementary to

Pattern Recognition

Sees: Projectile angles complementary to $45^\circ. Shortcut: Remember the identity\tan(45^\circ + \alpha) = \frac{1+\tan\alpha}{1-\tan\alpha}. Since complementary angles have sine ratios proportional to\sin(45^\circ + \alpha)/\sin(45^\circ - \alpha) = \tan(45^\circ + \alpha), the answer is directly\frac{1+\tan\alpha}{1-\tan\alpha}$.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Motion in a Plane

Q16 jee_main_2025_08_april_evening Projectile Motion
Two balls with same mass and initial velocity, are projected at different angles in such a way that maximum height reached by first ball is 8 times higher than that of the second ball. T₁ and T₂ are the total flying times of first and second ball, respectively, then the ratio of T₁ and T₂ is:
  • A. 2√(2) : 1
  • B. 2 : 1
  • C. √(2) : 1
  • D. 4 : 1

Solution

Related Formula
H = (u² ²θ)/(2g) and T = (2u θ)/(g)

where, H = maximum height reached T = total time of flight u = initial projection velocity θ = angle of projection

Core Logic

From the formulas, we see that:

H ∝ ²θ and T ∝ θ

Thus, we can directly link time of flight to the square root of the maximum height:

T ∝ √(H) (T₁)/(T₂) = √((H₁)/(H₂))
Step 1: Compute Ratio

Given:

H₁ = 8 H₂ (H₁)/(H₂) = 8

Substitute this ratio:

(T₁)/(T₂) = √(8) = 2√(2)

Thus, the ratio is 2√(2) : 1.

Pattern Recognition

Sees: Projectile heights ratio → Time of flight ratio. Shortcut: Since H ∝ uy² and T ∝ uy, we have T ∝ √(H). If the height is 8 times larger, the flying time is √(8) = 2√(2) times larger. ✓

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Kinematics

More Motion in a Plane Questions — jee_main_2025_29_jan_morning

Practice all Motion in a Plane previous-year questions →

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