In the absence of external factors such as air resistance, projectiles with high initial velocity will generally travel a longer distance than those with low initial velocity. This is because the distance traveled by a projectile is determined by both its initial velocity and the time of flight.
The horizontal distance traveled by a projectile can be calculated using the formula:
d = v₀ * t,
where:
- d is the horizontal distance traveled,
- v₀ is the initial horizontal velocity of the projectile, and
- t is the time of flight.
Assuming the launch angle and gravitational acceleration remain constant, the time of flight will primarily depend on the vertical motion of the projectile, which is affected by the initial vertical velocity. However, the horizontal velocity remains constant throughout the motion in the absence of external forces.
Therefore, if we compare two projectiles launched at the same angle, the one with the higher initial velocity will spend more time in the air and, consequently, travel a greater horizontal distance before hitting the ground.
It's worth noting that in real-world scenarios, factors like air resistance and the presence of other forces can significantly affect the motion of projectiles, altering their trajectories and making the relationship between initial velocity and distance more complex.