Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Review Guide

For two projectiles to land on the same point and at the same instant, it is essential that their horizontal and vertical displacements are equal throughout their motion. The initial velocities of the two projectiles (u1 and u2) directly influence their range and time of flight.

If both projectiles have the same initial velocity (u1 = u2), then they will have the same potential for horizontal distance and vertical height, provided that they are launched over a level terrain and under similar conditions. When launching the projectiles with identical initial velocities, any difference in their flight paths can be compensated either by adjusting their angles or by the time they are in the air.

While other considerations, such as launch angles and the horizontal components of their velocities, can also contribute to the conditions of their landing point and timing, the requirement for their initial velocities being equal ensures a fundamental equality in their potential motion characteristics, which is crucial for them to reach the same point simultaneously.

This understanding emphasizes the importance of initial conditions in projectile motion, especially concerning velocity.