For a projectile fired from the ground with a launch angle [math]\alpha[/math] and an initial velocity [math]v_0[/math], consider the launch angle to be variable and the initial velocity to be fixed. As the launch angle varies from 0 to [math]\pi/2[/math], the maximum heights of the resulting trajectories lie on an ellipse.[br][br]In the interactive figure, drag point [math]V[/math] to change the launch angle of the projectile. Drag point [math]B[/math] to change the initial velocity, [math]v_0[/math]. The highest point on the trajectory for a given initial velocity lies on an ellipse.

[i]Developed for use with Thomas' Calculus, published by Pearson.[/i]