Projectile Motion

Projectile Motion
• A projectile is a body launched at an angle following a curvature

called the trajectory path, e.g., dart, football, soccer ball, basketball,
baseball, and pole vault. For flights short enough so that the
curvature of the Earth may be neglected, the projectile has a constant
downward acceleration. In a uniformly accelerated motion, the
direction of the acceleration changes as the velocity changes.
• The complex motion of a projectile consists of two simple motions: (a)
constant horizontal velocity and (b) uniformly accelerated vertical
motion.
Two Cases of Projectiles
• Projectile motion has two components, one vertical and the other
horizontal. Since the gravitational force is vertically downward, it
produces acceleration only in that direction, leaving the horizontal
component of the velocity unchanged if air resistance is neglected.
The horizontal and vertical components are independent of each
other, that is , they do not have an effect on each other. They affect
the projectiles that follows acurved path. known as the trajectory
path.
Case 1: The trajectory is a half parabola
• Vertical motion:
• vᵢᵧ = 0 (starts from rest; the only force acting on the vertical
motion is the pull of gravity, i.e., it experiences a free fall)
v fy  gt
1
d y  gt
2
• Horizontal Motion:
• vᵢₓ = constant horizontal velocity
• dₓ = vₓt (Range)
• Example: A ball is kicked near
the edge of a cliff with a
horizontal velocity of 10 m/s.
• (a) What is the velocity upon
impact if it hists the ground after
2.0 s?
• (b) What is the horizontal
displacement of the ball?
• Solution:
• vₓ = 10 m/s
• vᵧ = gt = 9.8 m/s² × 2 s = 19.6 m/s
2 2 2 2
v  v  v  10  19.6  22m / s
x y
dxvxt (
10m/s)(
2s)20
m
Case 2: The trajectory is a full parabola
• To find the time of flight t (for
the full parabolic path):
• Consider the vertical motion, v fy  v iy  gt
• At the maximum height, v fy  0
• Thus,
0  viy  gt (-g because the upward motion is against gravity)
viy  vi sin  (from the vertical component of the initial velocity)
0  vi sin   gt
t  vi sin  / g (but this time, t is only from the launching point to the maximum height)
• Since a parabola is symmetrical with respect to its left and right sides,
the total time T is twice t for the full parabola, that is,
• T = 2t
• Therefore,
2 v i sin 
T 
g
• In the absence of air resistance. a projectile sent off at an angle θ
above the horizontal with an initial velocity of vᵢ has a range of
2
v
R  sin 2
i
g
• To find a formula for the range R:
R  v xT
v x  vi cos 
R  (vi cos  )(T )
2vi sin 
• Since T 
g
R  (vi cos  )( 2vi sin  / g )
1
But _ cos  sin   sin 2
2
2
vi sin 2
Thus, _ R 
g
Note: R and T equations are applicable only to projectiles that have the same launching and landing levels.
• Example:
A baseball is hit at an angle of 65⁰ above the ground with an initial
velocity of 30 ft/s.
(a) What is the total time of flight?
(b) What is the range?
(c) What is the maximum height?
• Solution:
2vi sin  2
v sin  v 2fy  viy2
T  2t  R i dy 
g g 2g
2(30 sin 65) (30) 2 sin 2(65)  (30 sin 65)
T  R dy 
32 ft / s 2 32 2( 32)
T  1.7 s R  21.5 ft d y  11 .55 ft
(g is negative because the motion is upward. which is against gravity)

Sample Problems
1. A dart was thrown horizontally at 8 m/s.
(a) How fast is it moving 0.67 s later?
(b) In what direction is it moving?
(c) What is the horizontal displacement or range of the dart?
• Solution:
vx  8m / s
2
v y  gt  ( 9 . 8 m / s )( 0 . 67 s )
v y  6 . 57 m / s
2 2 2 2
v  v  v  8  6 . 57  107 . 11 m / s  10 . 35 m / s
x y
1
vy
  tan
vx
6.57
1
  tan  39.39below _ the _ horizontal
8
d x  v x t  (8m / s )(0.67 s )
d x  5.36m
2. A warplane is in level flight at a velocity of 350 mi/h and an altitude
of 6000 ft when it drops a bomb.
(a) How long does the bomb take to reach the ground?
(b) What will the bomb's velocity be upon impact?
(c) What is the direction of the bomb at this time?
(d) What is the horizontal displacement or range of the bomb?
• Solution:
1 2
d y  viy  gt
2
Since _ viy  0
t 2d y / g
 2(6000) / 32
t  19.36
v x  350mi / h  5280 ft / mi  1h / 3600 s
v x  513.33 ft
v y  gt  (32)(19.36)
v y  619.52 ft / s
2 2
v  v  v  804.55m / s
x y
1
vy
  tan
vx
619.52
1
  tan
513.33
  50.36
R  d x  vxt
 (513.33 ft / s )(19.36 s )
 9938 ft
3. A football is thrown a velocity of 10 m/s at an angle of 30⁰ above the
horizontal.
(a) How far away should the intended receiver be?
(b) What will be the time of flight?
(c) What is the maximum height reached?
• Solution:
2
v sin 2 
R  i
g
2
( 10 ) sin 2 ( 30  )

9 .8
 8 . 84 m
2vi sin 
T
g
2(10) sin 30

9. 8
 1.02 s
2 2
v v
fy iy
dy 
2g
2
0  (10 sin 30)

2(9.8)
 1.28m
4. At what an angle should an arrow be released in order for its range
to be at a maximum value?
• Solution:
2
v sin 2
R  i
g
• The maximum value for the sine function is at sin 90 ⁰ = 1. Its
value at an angle greater than or less than 90 ⁰ is less than 1.
• Thus, the angle we are looking for is sin 1 1
2
or 90⁰/2.
2
v sin 2(45)
R i
g
vi2
R
g is the equation to be used if the maximum range for a full
parabolic trajectory path is needed.
5. Find the minimum initial speed of a cork that pops out of a bottle
and travels a horizontal distance of 10 m.
• Solution:
2
v
R m ax  i
g
v i  gR
v i  ( 9 . 8 )( 10 m )
v i  9 .9 m / s
To be continued...

Projectile Motion

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Projectile Motion

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Projectile Motion

• A projectile is a body launched at an angle following a curvature

viy  vi sin  (from the vertical component of the initial velocity)

(g is negative because the motion is upward. which is against gravity)

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