Projectile motion problem. The maximum range for a projectile is achieved when the projectile is fired at 45 degrees. This is true if the launch starts and ends at the same altitude.

What about if you fire at a target at a lower elevation? Is the optimal angle still 45 degrees? Is it more? Less?
Please help me explain in words not equations.

1 answer

optimal angle same.
why> range depends on time in air, and horizontal velocity. If you solve for max time in air as a function of launch angle, and then horizontal velocity as a function of angle, and multiply them, you find that range as a function of angle is 2*cosAngle*sinAngle. Trig, indicates that is equivalent to sin^2(2*Angle )
Well sin of any angle is max when the angleis 90 deg, so for sin^2(2*launchA) to be max, launch angle is 45deg