Halliday, Resnick & Walker — Motion in Two and Three Dimensions: Problem 40

Suppose that a shot putter can put a shot at the world-class speed \(v_0 = 15.00 \text{ m/s}\) and at a height of \(2.160 \text{ m}\). What horizontal distance would the shot travel if the launch angle \(\theta_0\) is (a) \(45.00^\circ\) and (b) \(42.00^\circ\)? The answers indicate that the angle of \(45^\circ\), which maximizes the range of projectile motion, does not maximize the horizontal distance when the launch and landing are at different heights.