How to do calculations for a cannon distance, angle, etc?

[aj23]

I know there are programs out there for the calculations, but I need the actual data and each step in the calculations for a physics project. Does anyone know how this would work with a pneumatic cannon using a piston valve, in terms of figuring out the distance it can fire with given angles and pressure?

[Technician1002]

This is complex. Too many variables are unknown. On earth, air atmosphere provides randomness to projectiles with undefined aerodynamics. I would not even want to calculate the landing area of this example shot below. As you can see the atmosphere has a huge impact on the flight of the projectile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2fDxDCHPfo
The projectile flight is not predictable without a complex fluid dynamics model.

If your projectile has a more ballistic flight path, then a ballistics prediction can be made using known launch angles and velocity. Try using GGDT.
http://www.thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT/usa ... istic.html

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/traj.html

It gets a little more complex when you throw in air resistance though.

[D_Hall]

Alternatively, in recent days some Indian-born kid in Germany supposedly came up with a general form equation to answer ye ol' ballistics problem. A bit of research to see what the kid did could prove to the teach that you can do it and that you're up on current events in science.

[Tipsypyro]

Cant find it. Do you have a link?

[jrrdw]

http://www.thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT/usa ... istic.html