Formula library

Projectile Motion - Initial Velocity from Range

Projectile Motion - Initial Velocity from Range
\[v_0 = \sqrt{\frac{R g}{\sin(2\theta)}}\]

Variables

v0initial velocity (m/s)
Rhorizontal range (m)
ggravitational acceleration (m/s²)
thetalaunch angle (rad)

Description

What is this formula?

This equation calculates the required initial velocity of a projectile to reach a specified horizontal range at a given launch angle.


When to use it

Use this formula when the target distance and launch angle are known and ideal projectile motion is assumed.


Example

If a projectile must travel 80 m with a launch angle of 45°:


v0 = ?((80 × 9.81) / sin(90°)) = 28.01 m/s


Applications

Ballistics, sports trajectory design, engineering simulations, targeting systems, and educational physics problems.

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