A fighter jet is flying horizontally at a certain altitude with a speed of 200 m s⁻¹. When it passes directly overhead an anti-aircraft gun, a bullet is fired from the gun, at an angle θ with the horizontal, to hit the jet. If the bullet speed is 400 m/s, the value of θ will be .

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Accepted Answer

60. To stay directly below the jet the bullet's horizontal component must equal the jet's speed: 400 cos θ = 200. cos θ = 1/2 ⇒ θ = 60°.

A fighter jet is flying horizontally at a certain altitude with a speed of 200 m s⁻¹. When it passes directly overhead an anti-aircraft gun, a bullet is fired from the gun, at an angle θ with the horizontal, to hit the jet. If the bullet speed is 400 m/s, the value of θ will be ______.

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