You kick a ball over a flat field. Taking into account gravity, but disregarding everything else like wind, friction, bounces, etc., etc., at what angle should you kick it so the ball lands the farthest away from you? And at what angle should you kick it so the ball makes the longest trajectory before landing?

well, first of all i'm assuming that you are kicking the ball to the other end of the field, so with that in mind, the quickest way from point A to point B is straight line. so kick the ball straight at a 180 degree angle parallel to the flat field. The absence of friction and wind resistance will take it's course and the ball will travel infinitely far due to the lack of inequalities grating between the two surfaces, the cause of that lovably, warm (literally) friction.  the angle of trajectory will be aprx. 360 degrees neglecting the bulge at the equator (when viewed from space). ha just kiddin i know what you mean't.

Posted by dan on 2005-03-18 19:27:21