Highest Velocity in Y direction is when its perpendicular and Crosswind Question

[glam407]

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1) A crosswind displaces a projectile MOST when it is fired from the projectile gun angled in what fashion?

The answer says its when its perpendicular because it has the highest y velocity this way. I'm a little confused by this logic and the highest y velocity concept

 

[Hemorrage]

I don't think the highest y velocity is important. The idea here is that when you shoot a projectile at 90* there is no x component of motion, therefore it's easier for a crosswind (force perpendicular to the velocity) to displace the object because it doesn't have any inertia in the x direction.

 

[Captain Sisko]

i think there's a problem when you describe x and y motion without defining a set of axes.

if you say that y is vertical and it can be shot at some angle theta to the horizontal x, and crosswind acts in the z direction, then yes, 90 degrees or completely vertical is correct. the reason for this does not have to do with inertia because the xwind direction is normal to any x component it might have. the reason displacement is maximized is because time of flight is highest when it's shot vertically. if it was shot horizontal, gravity would pull it into the ground at t=0. displacement would be vz * t so at Max t or theta = 90 you get Max displacement.

sorry if this is confusing