2005/06/28 by Peter Chudinov, Chudinov, Peter
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Classical Physics (physics.class-ph) #Experimental and Theoretical Physics Studies #FOS: Physical sciences #Guidance and Control Systems #Sports Dynamics and Biomechanics #physics.class-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.physics/0506201
The paper was published in the Proceedings of 21st International Ballistics Symposium, Adelaide, South Australia, 2004
arxiv created 2005/06/28 · openalex publication_date 2005/06/28 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A classic problem of the motion of a point mass (projectile) thrown at an angle to the horizon is reviewed. The air drag force is taken into account with the drag factor assumed to be constant. Analytic approach is used for investigation. The problem of finding an optimal angle of launching a point mass in a medium with quadratic drag force is considered. An equation for determining a value of this angle is obtained. After finding the optimal angle of launching, eight main parameters of the point mass motion are analytically determined. These parameters are used to construct analytically six main functional relationships of the problem. Simple analytic formulas are used to solve two problems of optimization aimed to maximize the flight range of a point mass and minimize the initial speed of the point mass for getting to the given point on the plane. The motion of a baseball is presented as an example.