45 degree is optimal angle for firing for distance?

[HitNRunPoster]

You're shooting a projectile (a kitten, for example) out of a cannon. What angle do you fire at to get max distance (excluding other actors such as tnt, floating explosives, or venus fly traps).

[daryn]

45 degrees, assuming the target is at the same altitude as launch point. if you want to hit something higher or lower, it changes.

assuming no friction

[HitNRunPoster]

I'd figured 45 degrees, but I wasn't sure about the different heights thing, very cool.

Luckily I had a test pilot that verified that 45 degrees was the correct angle. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

If anyone has a link to a site with a few graphs on it and an equation that would be awesome.

Thanks, Daryn.

[Siegmund]

As previously noted, if you neglect friction and the target is at the same altitude, 45 degrees. Standard problem in first-year physics to prove it using calculus.

In the real world, the atmosphere is thinner higher up. Max range for the 5" guns in service in the navy is achieved at 47 degrees, not 45, because of the shell suffering less speed loss higher up. (It's really just a curiosity - the extra range between 40 and 45, or 45 and 47, degrees is tiny.)

[FortunaMaximus]

I have a silly question regarding this. Would there be microadjustments dependent on in which direction you're firing in regards to the planet's rotation?

[arahant]

Just to be clear, I think kittens would exhibit significant drag. This is probably less important with dead kittens, but definitely would require an experimental answer.

[tolbiny]

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Just to be clear, I think kittens would exhibit significant drag. This is probably less important with dead kittens, but definitely would require an experimental answer.

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Done, hairless cats w/ crisco was the winner. An extra 14.3% distance traveled over hairy cats without crisco (on average)

[HeavilyArmed]

[ QUOTE ]
As previously noted, if you neglect friction and the target is at the same altitude, 45 degrees. Standard problem in first-year physics to prove it using calculus.

In the real world, the atmosphere is thinner higher up. Max range for the 5" guns in service in the navy is achieved at 47 degrees, not 45, because of the shell suffering less speed loss higher up. (It's really just a curiosity - the extra range between 40 and 45, or 45 and 47, degrees is tiny.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Is there much use today for any large bore ballistic weaponry?

[iron81]

[ QUOTE ]
Is there much use today for any large bore ballistic weaponry?

[/ QUOTE ]
Who cares? Battleship guns are awesome.

[HajiShirazu]

I don't know about adjustments for simply maximizing range, but you do have to adjust for the earth's rotation in projectile warfare or you will miss badly, it's called the coriolis effect.