Source: Collection of Difficult Physics Problems
Problem Sets:
Problem
Two particles are launched from the same point on the ground with the same initial speed $v_0$ but at different launch angles. Air resistance is negligible.
The product of the times of flight for two projectiles launched with the same initial speed but at different angles that result in the same horizontal range $R$ is proven to be:
$$T_1 T_2 = \frac{2R}{g}$$The horizontal range $R$ and time of flight $T$ for a projectile launched with initial speed $v_0$ at an angle $\theta$ with respect to the horizontal are given by:
$$R = \frac{v_0^2 \sin(2\theta)}{g}$$ $$T = \frac{2v_0 \sin\theta}{g}$$Let the two launch angles be $\theta_1$ and $\theta_2$. For the two particles to have the same range $R$ with the same initial speed $v_0$, the following condition must hold:
$$\sin(2\theta_1) = \sin(2\theta_2)$$Since the angles are different ($\theta_1 eq \theta_2$), the angles must be complementary. This is because $\sin(x) = \sin(\pi - x)$. Therefore, $2\theta_1 = \pi - 2\theta_2$, which simplifies to:
$$\theta_1 + \theta_2 = \frac{\pi}{2}$$Let $\theta_1 = \theta$. Then $\theta_2 = \pi/2 - \theta$. The times of flight for these two launches, $T_1$ and $T_2$, are:
$$T_1 = \frac{2v_0 \sin\theta}{g}$$ $$T_2 = \frac{2v_0 \sin(\pi/2 - \theta)}{g} = \frac{2v_0 \cos\theta}{g}$$Now, we find the product of these two times of flight:
$$T_1 T_2 = \left(\frac{2v_0 \sin\theta}{g}\right) \left(\frac{2v_0 \cos\theta}{g}\right) = \frac{4v_0^2 \sin\theta\cos\theta}{g^2}$$Using the trigonometric identity $2\sin\theta\cos\theta = \sin(2\theta)$, we get:
$$T_1 T_2 = \frac{2v_0^2 (2\sin\theta\cos\theta)}{g^2} = \frac{2v_0^2 \sin(2\theta)}{g^2}$$We can rearrange this expression as:
$$T_1 T_2 = \frac{2}{g} \left(\frac{v_0^2 \sin(2\theta)}{g}\right)$$Recognizing that the term in the parenthesis is the expression for the range $R$, we substitute it into the equation:
$$T_1 T_2 = \frac{2R}{g}$$This completes the proof.