XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips   
   From: kludge@panix.com   
      
   Mark Jackson   wrote:   
   >On 10/15/2025 5:04 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:   
   >> But time of arrival is more difficult since the projectile velocity   
   >> isn't constant at every point along that parabola.  Vectors and the   
   >> calculus make these simple problems but they would be difficult to   
   >> solve without them.   
   >   
   >Again, why would you need calculus?  The time to arrival depends on the   
   >distance to target and the horizontal component of the muzzle velocity,   
   >both of which are constant.  Only the vertical component of the shell's   
   >velocity varies, and that doesn't enter into things.   
   >   
   >(For negligible air resistance, of course, and - to be precise - firing   
   >at a target at the same height as the cannon.  Firing uphill the shell   
   >will land a bit earlier, downhill a bit later.)   
      
   That's the point of indirect fire!  You're firing upward and the shell   
   travels often higher vertically than it travels horizontally.  The enemy   
   may not be very far away but they are on the other side of a barrier.   
   You can shoot over the barrier with artillery, while you are protected   
   from small arms fire.  Angles of 75 to 85 degrees are not uncommon.   
   --scott   
   >   
   >--   
   >Mark Jackson - https://mark-jackson.online/   
   >   Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.   
   >                               - Mark Twain   
      
      
   --   
   "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)