Q.The angles of projection for which a projectile covers the same horizontal range, are 30° and ................. .
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Projectile Range Symmetry
Projectile Range Symmetry
Imagine you're standing in a field and you throw a ball as hard as you can. You want it to land as far away as possible. Intuitively, you'd probably throw it at a 45° angle — and you'd be right. But here's the surprising part: if you throw it at 30° or at 60°, the ball lands at exactly the same distance.
That's the core idea of range symmetry.
The Intuition
Think about what happens when you launch a projectile at a shallow angle (say 20°). It has a large horizontal component of velocity, so it moves fast sideways — but it doesn't stay in the air very long because it barely goes upward. The range is limited by the short flight time.
Now think about a steep angle (say 70°). The ball goes high up, so it stays in the air a long time — but its horizontal speed is small because most of the launch velocity is directed upward. Again, the range is limited, this time by the low horizontal speed.
At 45°, you get the best trade-off: decent horizontal speed and decent flight time. That gives the maximum range.
But notice something: 20° and 70° are complementary angles — they add up to 90°. And they give the same range. So do 30° and 60°, 10° and 80°, and so on. The only exception is 45°, which is its own complement (45° + 45° = 90°), and it gives the maximum.
The Precise Statement
R(θ)=gu2sin2θ
where u is the launch speed, θ is the launch angle measured from the horizontal, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Range symmetry says: for any launch angle θ (between 0° and 90°), the range at angle θ equals the range at angle 90°−θ.
R(θ)=R(90°−θ)
Why It Works
Look at the formula. The range depends on sin2θ. Now:
sin[2(90°−θ)]=sin(180°−2θ)=sin2θ
Since sin(180°−x)=sinx for any angle x, the two ranges are identical. The sine function is symmetric about 90°, and that symmetry passes directly to the range.
This symmetry holds only when launch and landing are at the same height. If you're throwing from a cliff or onto a slope, the symmetry breaks — the formula changes.
A Quick Example
A cricketer throws a ball at 20 m/s. At 30°, the range is:
R=9.8(20)2sin60°=9.8400×0.866≈35.3 m
At 60° (the complement), the range is:
R=9.8400×sin120°=9.8400×0.866≈35.3 m
Same number. At 45°, you get:
R=9.8400×sin90°=9.8400×1≈40.8 m
That's the maximum.
Common Mistake to Avoid …
For projectile motion, angles θ and (90° − θ) give the same horizontal range for a given launch speed. …
Range R = (u² sin2θ)/g is the same for θ and 90° − θ because sin2θ = sin(2(90°−θ)) = sin(180°−22θ) has the same value.
The horizontal range of a projectile launched with speed u at angle θ is:
R=gu2sin2θ
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If a body A of mass M is thrown with velocity v at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal and another body B of the same mass is thrown with the same speed at an angle of 60 degrees to the horizontal, the ratio of the horizontal ranges of A and B will be(a) 1 : 3(b) 1 : 1(c) sqrt(3) : 1(d) 1 : sqrt(3)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Complementary projection angles (theta and 90 - theta) produce equal horizontal ranges for the same launch speed, since sin(2theta) is the same for both.
Horizontal range of a projectile: R = (v^2 sin(2theta)) / g
For body A, theta_A = 30 degrees: sin(2 x 30) = sin(60) = sqrt(3)/2
For body B, theta_B = 60 degrees: sin(2 x 60) = sin(120) = sqrt(3)/2
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Fill in the blank: In projectile motion, the maximum horizontal range of a projectile is ________.
›Reveal solutionSolution
The maximum horizontal range of a projectile is R_max = u²/g, occurring at a launch angle of 45°.
For a projectile launched with initial speed u at angle θ to the horizontal, the horizontal range is R = (u² sin 2θ)/g. Since sin 2θ has a maximum value of 1 (when 2θ = 90°, i.e. θ = 45°), the range is maximum when θ = 45°, giving R_max = u²/g. This is why, for a given launch …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Fill in the blank: For the angle of projection theta and (90-theta), ____ remains same in projectile motion.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Complementary projection angles θ and (90°−θ) produce the same horizontal range, though the maximum height and time of flight differ.
For a projectile launched with speed u at angle θ to the horizontal, the horizontal range is:
R = (u² sin 2θ) / g
For the complementary angle (90°−θ):
R' = (u² sin[2(90°−θ)]) / g = (u² sin(180°−2θ)) / g
Using sin(180°−x) = sin x:
R' = (u² sin 2θ) / g = R
…
- CBSE 2024Set SET-NDP60001 markQ.The horizontal range of a projectile is maximum at ...... (45° / 90°).
›Reveal solutionSolution
The range of a projectile, R=gu2sin2θ, is maximum when the angle of projection is 45°.
For a projectile launched with speed u at angle θ to the horizontal, the horizontal range is
R=gu2sin2θ
…
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The angles of projection for which a projectile covers the same horizontal range, are 30° and ................. .(a) 45°(b) 60°(c) 75°(d) 90°
›Reveal solutionSolution
Range R = (u² sin2θ)/g is the same for θ and 90° − θ because sin2θ = sin(2(90°−θ)) = sin(180°−22θ) has the same value.
The horizontal range of a projectile launched with speed u at angle θ is:
R=gu2sin2θ
…
- CBSE 2024Set sz1 markMCQQ.A projectile will cover same horizontal distance, when the initial angles of projection are: (A) 20 deg, 60 deg (B) 20 deg, 70 deg (C) 30 deg, 40 deg (D) 50 deg, 60 deg
›Reveal solutionSolution
Two projection angles give the same horizontal range whenever they are complementary (add up to 90 deg); only 20 deg and 70 deg satisfy this among the options.
The horizontal range of a projectile is R=gu2sin(2θ).
For two angles θ and (90∘−θ): sin(2θ)=sin(2(90∘−θ))=sin(180∘−2θ)=sin(2θ), so the range is identical for both.
Checking the options: (A) 20+60=80 deg (not complementary), …
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markQ.State whether true or false: Horizontal range is the same for projection angles theta and (90 degrees - theta).
›Reveal solutionSolution
True. The horizontal range R = u^2 sin(2theta)/g is the same for complementary angles theta and (90-theta) because sin(2theta) = sin(180-2theta) = sin(2(90-theta)).
For a projectile launched with speed u at angle theta to the horizontal, the horizontal range is:
R = (u^2 sin(2 theta)) / g
For the complementary angle (90 degrees - theta):
R' = (u^2 sin(2(90-theta))) / g = (u^2 sin(180 - 2theta)) / g = (u^2 sin(2theta)) / g = R …
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Which of the following pairs of angles have the same value of horizontal range?(a) 50°, 75°(b) 50°, 60°(c) 30°, 60°(d) 40°, 45°
›Reveal solutionSolution
Complementary angles of projection (angles that add up to 90 degrees) give equal horizontal range; only the pair (30 deg, 60 deg) among the given options is complementary.
The horizontal range of a projectile is R = u^2 sin(2theta)/g. This depends on theta only through sin(2theta). For two angles theta1 and theta2 = 90 deg - theta1:
2theta2 = 180 deg - 2theta1, so sin(2theta2) = sin(180 deg - 2theta1) = sin(2*theta1)
Hence R is the same for theta1 and 90 deg - theta1.
…
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markQ.The angle of projection for which a projectile covers the maximum horizontal range is .............
›Reveal solutionSolution
Maximum horizontal range occurs at a projection angle of 45°.
Derivation. The horizontal range of a projectile launched with speed u at angle θ to the horizontal is:
R=gu2sin2θ …
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Two objects are projected at angles 30 degrees and 60 degrees respectively with respect to the horizontal direction. The range of two objects are denoted as R30 and R60. Choose the correct relation from the following :(a) R30 = R60 / 2(b) R30 = R60(c) R30 = 2 x R60(d) R30 = 4 x R60
›Reveal solutionSolution
Range of a projectile is R = u²sin(2θ)/g. For projection angles θ and (90°-θ), the value of sin(2θ) is the same, so their ranges are equal — 30° and 60° are exactly such a complementary pair.
Range formula for a projectile launched with speed u at angle θ to the horizontal (same launch and landing height):
R = u² sin(2θ) / g
For θ = 30°: R30 = u² sin(60°) / g
For θ = 60°: R60 = u² sin(120°) / g
But sin(120°) = sin(180° − 120°) = sin(60°), so sin(60°) = sin(120°).
Therefore R30 = u² sin(60°)/g = u² sin(120°)/g = R60.
…
- CBSE 2021Set ANNUAL1 markQ.The angles of projection for which a projectile covers the same horizontal range, are 30° and ................ .
›Reveal solutionSolution
Range R=gu2sin2θ gives the same value for θ and 90∘−θ, since sin2θ=sin(180∘−2θ).
The horizontal range of a projectile launched with speed u at angle θ is:
R=gu2sin2θ
…
- CBSE 2018Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Three balls projected upwards with the same initial speed at angle θ = 30°, 45° and 60° respectively. Let the range of the ball be expressed by R₀. Then:(a) R30 > R45 > R60(b) R60 > R45 > R30(c) R45 > R30(d) R45 < R60
›Reveal solutionSolution
Range R = u²sin(2θ)/g is maximum at θ=45°; complementary angles (30° & 60°) give equal, smaller ranges. So R45 > R30 = R60.
For a projectile launched with speed u at angle θ to the horizontal, the horizontal range is
R=gu2sin(2θ)
Compute sin(2θ) for each angle:
- θ = 30° → sin(60°) = √3/2 ≈ 0.866
- θ = 45° → sin(90°) = 1
- θ = 60° → sin(120°) = √3/2 ≈ 0.866 …
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