PROJECTILES

MUJUNGU HERBERT
(Mathematics Lecturer)

National Teachers College Kabale

May 25, 2020

 Content
1 Definition of a projectile
Examples
2 Equations of motion for a projectile
3 Other general equations
Time at maximum height
Maximum Height Hmax
Time of flight T
Range R
Maximum range R
Equation of a trajectory
4 Summary

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 2 / 13)
 Definition of a projectile
Any Object that once thrown by some force continues in motion by its
own inertia.
Examples
Throwing/kicking a ball,
Throwing a stone,
A shell fired from a gun
etc

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 3 / 13)
 A particle projected at an angle θ to the horizontal
Y-axis
g
vy
vx
u
u sin θ

θ
X-axis
O u cos θ

We shall investigate both the horizontal and vertical motions;

I For horizontal motion, vx = ucosθ is constant since there are no
horizontal forces subject to the particle,
I The vertical component of velocity, vy , is subject to acceleration due to
gravity, g.

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 4 / 13)
 Equations of motion for a projectile
The components of acceleration parallel to the axes at any instant are;

ax = 0 , ay = −g (1)

Integrating Equations 1 with respect to time, we have;

vx = constant , vy = −gt + constant

At t = 0, vx and vy are ucosθ and usinθ respectively, hence;

vx = ucosθ , vy = −gt + usinθ (2)

Integrating again with respect to time;

x = ucosθ · t , y = − 21 gt2 + usinθ · t (3)

Equations 2 and 3 give the velocity and coordinates respectively of a

projectile at any instant. Also; vy2 = u2 sin2 θ · −2gy, can be used.
MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES
(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 5 / 13)
 Time at maximum height Maximum Height Hmax
Taking the fact that the particle is
momentarily at rest at maximum Using the time at maximum height
height and by using Equation 2; and 3, i.e,

vy = −gt + usinθ 1
y = − gt2 + u sin θt
2
But vy = 0
 2  
1 u sin θ u sin θ
0 = −gt + usinθ Hmax = − g
2 g
+ u sin θ
g
u sin θ
t= (4)
g u2 sin2 θ
Hmax = (5)
2g

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 6 / 13)
 Time of flight T Range R
For a complete flight, y = 0 and
t = T; R = T × u cos θ
2u sin θ
 
By using Eqn 3; R= u cos θ
g
1
0 = − gT2 + u sin θT
!
2u2 sin θ cos θ
2 R=
1 g
T(u sin θ − gT) = 0
2 u2 sin 2θ
2u sin θ R= (7)
T = 0 orT = g
g
Ignoring T = 0 then This is maximum when
2u sin θ sin 2θ = 1, i.e, is maximum;
T= (6)
g u2
Rmax = when θ = 45o (8)
g

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(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 7 / 13)
 Equation of a trajectory

From equation 3; x = ucosθ · t , y = − 12 gt2 + usinθt,

1 Show that the

u (a, b)
Equation of the trajectory is u
θ2 θ
1

gx2
y = x tan θ − sec2 θ.
2u2 (x1, y) (x1, y)
u
2 If the particle y y

passes through the point with θ

coordinates (a, b), show that x1

x2

ga2 tan2 θ − 2u2 a tan θ + 2u2 b + ga2 = 0

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 8 / 13)
 Example 1
A particle is projected from a point on level ground such that its initial
velocity is 56 ms−1 at an angle of 30 o above the horizontal. Taking g as
9.8 ms−2 , find the time taken for the particle to reach its maximum height.

Solution

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 9 / 13)
 Example 1
A particle is projected from a point on level ground such that its initial
velocity is 56 ms−1 at an angle of 30 o above the horizontal. Taking g as
9.8 ms−2 , find the time taken for the particle to reach its maximum height.

Solution
Taking vertical motion and using the fact that the particle is momentarily
at rest vertically at the maximum height;

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 9 / 13)
 Example 1
A particle is projected from a point on level ground such that its initial
velocity is 56 ms−1 at an angle of 30 o above the horizontal. Taking g as
9.8 ms−2 , find the time taken for the particle to reach its maximum height.

Solution
Taking vertical motion and using the fact that the particle is momentarily
at rest vertically at the maximum height;
Applying
ẏ = 0, u = 56 ms−1 , θ = 30 o and
g = 9.8 ms−2 in equation 2

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 9 / 13)
 Example 1
A particle is projected from a point on level ground such that its initial
velocity is 56 ms−1 at an angle of 30 o above the horizontal. Taking g as
9.8 ms−2 , find the time taken for the particle to reach its maximum height.

Solution
Taking vertical motion and using the fact that the particle is momentarily
at rest vertically at the maximum height;
Applying
ẏ = 0, u = 56 ms−1 , θ = 30 o and
g = 9.8 ms−2 in equation 2 , i.e,

0 = −gt + u sin θ
0 = −9.8t + 56sin30o
56sin30o
t= , ⇒ t = 2.86 s
9.8
MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES
(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 9 / 13)
 Example 2
A bullet fired from a gun has a maximum horizontal range of 2000 m. Find
the muzzle velocity of the gun (i.e. the speed with which the bullet leaves
the gun).
Solution

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 10 / 13)
 Example 2
A bullet fired from a gun has a maximum horizontal range of 2000 m. Find
the muzzle velocity of the gun (i.e. the speed with which the bullet leaves
the gun).
Solution

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 10 / 13)
 Example 2
A bullet fired from a gun has a maximum horizontal range of 2000 m. Find
the muzzle velocity of the gun (i.e. the speed with which the bullet leaves
the gun).
Solution
So we have θ = 45o ,
Rm ax = 2000 m, u =? and
g = 9.8 ms−2

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 10 / 13)
 Example 2
A bullet fired from a gun has a maximum horizontal range of 2000 m. Find
the muzzle velocity of the gun (i.e. the speed with which the bullet leaves
the gun).
Solution
So we have θ = 45o ,
Rm ax = 2000 m, u =? and
g = 9.8 ms−2 By using in Eqn 8;

u2
Rmax =
g
u2
2000 =
q 9.8
u = (2000 ∗ 9.8), ⇒ u = 140 ms−1

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 10 / 13)
 Trial Questions
1 A particle is projected from a point on level ground such that its
initial velocity is 28 ms−1 at an angle of 45 o above the horizontal.
Taking g as 9.8 ms−2 , find the time taken for the particle to reach its
maximum height.

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 11 / 13)
 Trial Questions
1 A particle is projected from a point on level ground such that its
initial velocity is 28 ms−1 at an angle of 45 o above the horizontal.
Taking g as 9.8 ms−2 , find the time taken for the particle to reach its
maximum height.
2 A particle is projected from a point on a horizontal plane and has an
initial velocity u at an angle of θ above the plane. Show;
by using the equation; vy2 = u2 sin2 θ − 2gy, that the greatest height h
2 sin2 θ
reached by the particle above the plane is given by h = u 2g .

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 11 / 13)
 Trial Questions
1 A particle is projected from a point on level ground such that its
initial velocity is 28 ms−1 at an angle of 45 o above the horizontal.
Taking g as 9.8 ms−2 , find the time taken for the particle to reach its
maximum height.
2 A particle is projected from a point on a horizontal plane and has an
initial velocity u at an angle of θ above the plane. Show;
by using the equation; vy2 = u2 sin2 θ − 2gy, that the greatest height h
2 sin2 θ
reached by the particle above the plane is given by h = u 2g .
3 A particle is projected from a point on a horizontal plane with an
initial velocity of 140 ms −1 at an angle of elevation of 30o . Find the
greatest height reached by the particle above the plane.

MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 11 / 13)
 Trial Questions
1 A particle is projected from a point on level ground such that its
initial velocity is 28 ms−1 at an angle of 45 o above the horizontal.
Taking g as 9.8 ms−2 , find the time taken for the particle to reach its
maximum height.
2 A particle is projected from a point on a horizontal plane and has an
initial velocity u at an angle of θ above the plane. Show;
by using the equation; vy2 = u2 sin2 θ − 2gy, that the greatest height h
2 sin2 θ
reached by the particle above the plane is given by h = u 2g .
3 A particle is projected from a point on a horizontal plane with an
initial velocity of 140 ms −1 at an angle of elevation of 30o . Find the
greatest height reached by the particle above the plane.
For more questions; https://bit.ly/Projectile_questions
and for notes https://bit.ly/Projectile_notes .
All are reading materials are saved on https://bit.ly/padlet-DESII
MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES
(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 11 / 13)
 Summary
A Projectile is any object that when thrown continues, continues in
motion under its own inertia.
1 Maximum Height;
Equations of motion u2 sin2 θ
1 Horizontal Motion; Hmax = ,
2g
x = u cos θ · t Time at Hmax ; t = u sin θ
g ,
2
2 Vertical motion; 2u sin θ
3 Time of Flight; T = ,
vy = u sin θ − gt g
1 2 u2 sin 2θ
y = − gt + u sin θ · t and 4 Range;R = ,
2 g
vy2 = u2 sin2 θ − 2gy u2
Rmax =
g
gx2
Equation of a Trajectory; y = x tan θ − sec2 θ.
2u2
MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES
(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 12 / 13)
 Thank You for Your Attention
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+256779547251
+256701310635
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2019/2020
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MUJUNGU HERBERT PROJECTILES

(Mathematics Lecturer) (National Teachers College Kabale
May 25, 2020 13 / 13)