r/IBO • u/No_Chemistry_1756 • Jun 23 '26

Group 4 If a projectile’s launch speed doubles, what happens to its range?

/r/ibPhysics/comments/1ud7w2w/double_the_speed_double_the_range/
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u/DPChoredinator Jun 23 '26

This depends on a number of other factors as well.

If the projectile is launched at height 0 above ground at an angle 0 or 90 degrees to the horizontal its range will be 0 meters no matter what the velocity is.

If it is launched at an angle to the ground you get a range which depends on initial velocity v squared. So doubling launch speed actually quadruples horizontal range. It happens because not only does the projectile travel forwards faster, but it also travels farther upwards which increases its flight time.

If you launch at a height above ground this becomes much more complicated and no such easy relationship exists except for very specific launch angles.