Projectile Motion

9.
Projectile Motion
Learning objectives:
Solve motion problems using the equations for constant
acceleration.
Discuss the motion of a projectile.
Solve projectile problems using the equations of motion.
Analyse projectile motion using Logger Pro.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qErh402eJgI
Projectile Motion
Which ball will hit the ground first? Why?

Hunter and the monkey. Video
A hunter is trying to catch a monkey. She sees it in a tree, aims and

fires. At the moment she fires, the monkey lets go of the branch and
falls. For her bullet to hit the falling monkey, should she aim directly
at the monkey, slightly above the monkey or slightly below the
monkey? Why?
Demonstration: Water droplet - projectile
Investigating motion with Logger Pro.
Sketch the displacement-time graph and velocity-time graph for a
stationary football being kicked into the air and falling back to the
ground.
Now, open up Logger Pro and investigate the motion by inserting

the two different videos. Was your sketch graphs correct?
Projectile motion
Projectile motion is a form of motion in which an object or particle
(called a projectile) is thrown near the earth's surface, and it moves
along a curved path under the action of gravity only. The only force
of significance that acts on the object is gravity, which acts
downward to cause a downward acceleration.
−2
𝐿𝑒𝑡𝑔= 10𝑚𝑠
If the projectile has an initial horizontal velocity of 30ms-1 and the height of
the cliff is 65m, how can we calculate the time it takes for the cannonball to
reach the ground?
Can we calculate the range (distance from the base of the cliff to where the
cannonball lands?
How would we calculate the velocity at which the cannonball strikes the
ground?
Solution:
We can use the equations of motion for constant acceleration as long
as we consider the motion of the projectile in the horizontal and
vertical direction separately.
Vertical direction (y): Assume up direction is positive. We know the

following:
,
We can use to find t:
To find we use:
Horizontal direction: We know the following:
,
Well, since there is no component of acceleration in the x-direction,

then
We can use to find s,

How do we find the actual final velocity?
We need to combine the two components of velocity,

−1
30𝑚 𝑠
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 ,𝑣=√ 30 2+35.72 =46.6 𝑚𝑠 −1
−1
35.7 𝑚 𝑠
𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑜 𝑡h𝑒 h𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 , ∅ =𝑡𝑎𝑛− 1 ( )

35.7
30
=50. 0𝑜
If the projectile has an initial horizontal velocity of 25ms-1 and the

height of the cliff is 45m, how can we calculate the time it takes for
the cannonball to reach the ground?
Click on the below image to open the Phet file.
 Set the angle to 45o and the velocity to 10 ms-1. Does the cannonball
reach the target?
 Without adjusting the angle, change the speed of the cannonball until
it hits the target.
 What happens to the vertical component and the horizontal

component as the cannonball moves along its path? Explain why this
is so.
 Now set the velocity to 20 ms-1. Do not adjust the speed but adjust the
angle at which the cannon fires. You should find two angles that will
allow the cannonball to the target. Explain why there are two.
 What is the effect of adding air resistance to the path of a projectile?

Sketch what you think it would like before testing your prediction.
Projectile motion
The image below shows the path of a projectile fired at
ground level with an initial velocity that is at an angle to the
ground.
What would we need to know if we wanted to calculate

the maximum height and the range of the projectile?
Component velocities
On the diagram above, I have shown some typical quantities you
should know in order to solve projectile motion problems. is the
initial velocity and , is the final velocity. The subscripts and refer to
the horizontal and vertical components of these velocities, separately.
In doing the following calculations, we take upwards direction to be

positive in the vertical direction, and horizontally, we take vectors to
the right to be positive.
Example:
Saka kicks a football at 18 ms-1 and at an angle of 25o above the
horizontal. What might we be asked to calculate?
 The maximum height
 The time of flight
 The range (need to know time of flight to be able to calculate the
range
 The velocity at which the ball strikes the ground.
Note: we must assume that there is no air resistance.
Horizontal: ,
Vertical: ,
a) For max. height use with at max. height.
b) For time of flight, first calculate the time to reach max. height. The time
of flight will be double this time.
Use , ,
c) For range, use initial horizontal speed and time of flight.

Question 1:
Leonardo is standing on top of a cliff which is 35 m above the ground
below. He kicks the football at 12 ms-1 and at an angle of 30o above
the horizontal. Calculate the velocity with which the ball hits the
ground and its displacement from its original position as it reaches
the ground.
Solution:
 Draw a simple sketch of the situation. Show the probable
trajectory (the path the ball takes), a vector showing the initial
velocity, a vector showing the final velocity and a vector showing
the displacement. Since velocity is a vector, you will need to show
angles as well to give direction.
 You need to work in components - write down what you
know vertically and horizontally.
 Now you will have to select the appropriate equation of linear
motion to work out the time and the final vertical velocity.
 Use time calculated from the equations of linear motion to find the
horizontal component of displacement.
 Finally, combine the components to calculate your vectors.
Horizontal: ,
Vertical: ,
a) For use
Hence,
Therefore, velocity of impact,
We also need to calculate the direction:
b) For time of flight, we know the initial and final velocity in the vertical
direction:
Use , ,
c) For range, use initial horizontal speed and time of flight.
Question 2:
A cannon is fired at a velocity of 80ms-1 at an angle of 50o
above the horizon. The cannon is situated on a castle wall a
height of 25m above the surrounding land. Find the final
velocity vector and the range of the cannon.
What effect on the range of the cannon would we get from:

(i) Changing the angle to 40o?
(ii) Firing the cannon from the top of a 50m castle tower at
an angle of 45o?

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9.

Which ball will hit the ground first? Why?

A hunter is trying to catch a monkey. She sees it in a tree, aims and

Now, open up Logger Pro and investigate the motion by inserting

Vertical direction (y): Assume up direction is positive. We know the

We can use to find t:

Well, since there is no component of acceleration in the x-direction,

We can use to find s,

We need to combine the two components of velocity,

𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑜 𝑡h𝑒 h𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 , ∅ =𝑡𝑎𝑛− 1 ( )

If the projectile has an initial horizontal velocity of 25ms-1 and the

 What happens to the vertical component and the horizontal

 What is the effect of adding air resistance to the path of a projectile?

What would we need to know if we wanted to calculate

In doing the following calculations, we take upwards direction to be

a) For max. height use with at max. height.

c) For range, use initial horizontal speed and time of flight.

Therefore, velocity of impact,

We also need to calculate the direction:

What effect on the range of the cannon would we get from:

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