THE VARIATION OF RANGE OF CANNON BALL

WITH THE ANGLE OF PROJECTION

A project report
Submitted to them Department of Physics, St. Xavier’s College,
Maitighar, Kathmandu for the partial fulfillment for the requirement of
NEB +2 Science in Physics

By
Anuj Chaudhary
Class: XI
Roll No. : 022NEB053
Section: A
Date: February 5, 2023
 RECOMMENDATION

It is to certify that Mr. Anuj Chaudhary has successfully carried out the project entitled
“THE VARIATION OF RANGE OF CANNON BALL WITH THE ANGLE OF
PROJECTION” under my guidance and supervision.
I recommend this project for the +2 degree of NEB.

…………………………………
Supervisor
Mr. Ram Sundar Matang
Department of Physics
St. Xavier’s College
Maitighar, Kathmandu, Nepal

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The accomplishment and final outcome of this project required a lot of guidance and
effort and I am extremely privileged to have got this along with the completion of my
project. So, I would take this opportunity to express a deep sense of gratitude to all the
teachers of the Department of Physics for their cordial support, valuable information and
guidance.

My special thanks to Fr. Augustine Thomas S.J., the principal of St. Xavier’s College,
Maitighar, Kathmandu and to the project supervisor Mr. Ram Sundar Matang for giving
us the golden opportunity of doing this project.

I am overwhelmed in all humbleness and gratefulness to acknowledge me depth to

everyone who has helped me to put these ideas well above the level of simplicity and into
something concrete.

Anuj Chaudhary
Grade: XI
Section: A
Roll No: 022NEB053

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

RECOMMENDATION……………………………………………………………..…I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT……………………………………………………….……II
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………….…….III
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………….…..1
OBJECTIVES……………………………………………………………………..…...5
METHODOLOGY………………………………………………………………….....5
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION……………………………………………………….6
CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………...9
FUTURE SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT……………………………………………..9
REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………….10

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 INTRODUCTION

Any object thrown into the atmosphere so that it falls under the effect of gravity alone is
called a projectile. Path of the projectile is called trajectory. Air Resistance is neglected
and the direction of acceleration due to gravity is downward and constant. Some of the
examples of projectiles are; A bullet fired from a gun, A bomb dropped from an airplane,
A football kicked during a game,etc.

A projectile has two velocities i.e., horizontal and vertical velocities, when it is moving in
the air. The horizontal velocity remains constant throughout the motion whereas the
vertical motion is affected by the gravity. Hence, the trajectory of the projectile is
determined by the combined velocity due to gravity and horizontal velocity of the
projectile. Motion of the projectile takes place on a plane i.e. two dimensional motion.
It is of two types;
1. Horizontal Projectile
2. Projectile fired at an angle with the horizontal

Horizontal Projectile
Let an object be projected horizontally from a height of h above the ground giving initial
horizontal velocity u. The projectile is under the action of gravity. So, the horizontal
velocity remains constant, whereas its vertical velocity goes on increasing (initial vertical
velocity = 0) . The path of the projectile is neither horizontal nor vertical but it as shown
in fig(a).

Path of Projectile
Let the position coordinate of the projectile at P be (x,y) after time t of its projection.
For horizontal distance,
x=uxt t = x/u

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For vertical distance,
y= 0 + ½ gt2
y= ½ g x (x/u)2
From the above equations, we have,
y=(g/2u2)x2
This is an equation of parabola. Hence, the path of the
horizontal projectile is parabolic.

fig.-(a)
From the above equation, the position of the projectile at time t is (x,y)=(ut, ½ gt2).

Time of flight
The vertical distance covered by the projectile is equal to the height of the point of
projection above the ground. If T is the time of flight, then
H = 0 + ½ gT2

Horizontal Range
The horizontal range is the distance covered in horizontal direction in the time of flight T.
R=uT

Projectile fired at an angle with the horizontal

Suppose an object is projected with initial velocity u at an angle with the ground which
is taken as the X-axis. OY is a vertical line perpendicular to the ground. The velocity of
the object u has two components ux = u cos along X-axis and uy = u sin along Y-axis.
So, the initial velocity in horizontal direction is u cos in the vertically upward direction
u sin as shown in fig(b).
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The motion of the projectile is two dimensional. So the horizontal distance is covered by
horizontal velocity which is not affected by gravity and vertical distance is due is due to
the vertical velocity which is affected by the gravity.

fig.-(b)
Path of the projectile
Let the object is at a point P in time t whose horizontal distance and vertical distance are
x and y. As the horizontal velocity is constant, horizontal distance x in time t is gives as
x = u cosθ × t
or, t = x/(u cosθ)
Since vertical velocity is affected by gravity, the vertical distance y covered in time t is
given as
y = u sinθ × t - ½ gt2
or, y = u sinθ × x/u cosθ - ½ g × x2/u2cos2θ
or, y = x tanθ - g/2u2cos2θ × x2
This is an equation of a parabola. Hence the path of the projectile is parabolic
From the above equations, position (x,y) of projectile at time t = ( u cosθ x t, u sin θ x t -
½ gt2).
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Maximum Height (hmax)
It is the greatest height to which a projectile rises above the point of projection. At
maximum height the vertical velocity of the projectile becomes zero. From the above
equation of the motion, v2 = u2 + 2gh, We have,
0 = ( u sinθ )2 + 2 (-g) hmax
or, hmax = u2sin2θ/2g
Time of Flight (T)
Time for which a projectile remains in the air is called the time of flight. As the body is
projected from the ground and lands on the ground, the vertical displacement is zero.
Therefore, from the relation, y = ut + ½ at2, We have,
0 = u sinθ x T + ½(-g)T 2
or, T = 2u sinθ/g
Horizontal Range (R)
Horizontal distance covered by the projectile during its time of flight is called its range.
Since there is no acceleration in horizontal direction, so
Horizontal range = horizontal velocity x time of flight
R = u cos θ x 2u sinθ/g
R = (u2 2 sinθcosθ)/g
R = u2 sin2θ/g
Maximum Range (Rmax)
For a given initial velocity u, horizontal distance depends on the angle of projection.
Since sin2θ has a maximum value of 1, the horizontal range will be maximum when
sin 2θ=1.
Sin 2θ = 1 = sin 90o
2θ = 90o
θ = 45o
So, to achieve maximum horizontal range, the object must be projected at an angle of 45o
with the ground.

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 OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of this study titled The variation of range of canon ball

with the angle of projection are;

1. To study about the horizontal projectile and projectile fired at an angle with the
horizontal
2. To observe how speed and angle affects the projectile

METHODOLOGY
The study on the variation of range of canon ball with the angle of projection was
accomplished using both primary and secondary sources of information;
1. Primary sources of information;
Under this source of information, various
textbooks were studied and used as a reference for different topics.
2. Secondary sources of information;
Under this source of information, PHET
simulation was used and the facts were proved with demonstration.

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 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
After strictly confining myself to the objectives, following facts were discovered;
A PHET simulation was used to study and demonstrate the variation of range of canon
ball with angle of projection.
For Horizontal Projectile
The simulation of the horizontal projectile was done by throwing a cannonball with
cannon on different angles of projection.
We have,
u (initial velocity) = 15 m/s
g (acceleration due to gravity) = 9.8 m/s2
Projectile is also affected by air resistance. However, for this simulation, air resistance
was neglected.
Observation Table 1
Variation of canon ball with angle of projection in horizontal projectile

θ (in degrees) R (in metres) T (in seconds)

25 27.25 2

30 28.36 2.18

45 28.56 2.69

60 23.32 3.11

65 20.38 3.22

75 13.11 3.38

85 4.52 3.46

Hence, with the observations above, we can verify that the horizontal range of projectiles
changes with angle of projection. The horizontal range is maximum at 45o. The range
increases up to 45o and then starts decreasing. It was also observed that more the angle of
projection more is the time of flight.
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 Fig. - Variation of range with angle of projection in horizontal projectile

Projectile fired at an angle with the horizontal

The simulation of the projectile fired at an angle with the horizontal was done by
throwing a cannonball with cannon on different angles of projection.
We have,
u (initial velocity) = 20 m/s
g (acceleration due to gravity) = 9.8 m/s2
Projectile is also affected by air resistance. However, for this simulation, air resistance
was neglected.
Observation Table 2
Variation of canon ball with angle of projection in projectile fired at an angle with
the horizontal

(Note: The table is shown in another page)

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 θ (in degrees) R (in metres) T (in seconds) Hmax (in meters)

25 31.24 1.72 3.64

30 38.32 2.34 19.26

45 40.77 2.88 20.39

60 35.31 3.53 15.29

65 31.24 3.7 16.75

75 20.39 3.94 19.02

85 7.08 4.08 20.23

Hence, with the observation table above, we can verify that the horizontal range of the
projectile changes with the angle of projection of the projectile with an angle with the
horizontal. It has also been verified that the horizontal range is maximum at 45o. The
height is also maximum at 45o. Time increases when the angle of projection increases.

Fig. - Variation of Horizontal Range with the angle of projection in projectile with
an angle with the horizontal
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 CONCLUSION
It was concluded that the horizontal range of projectile changes with the change in angle
of projection. The horizontal Range is maximum when the angle of projection is 45o. The
horizontal range is zero when the angle of projection is 90o. The time of flight also
changes with the angle of projection. The time of flight increases with the increase in the
angle of projection. The maximum height also changes with the angle of projection. The
height increases with the increase in angle of projection. The height of the projectile is
maximum at 90o. Hence, we can say that, there is variation in horizontal range, time of
flight and maximum height as well, due to variation in angle of projection.

FUTURE SCOPES OF THIS PROJECT

Today’s generation is highly interested in acquiring the knowledge of the world and the
basic governing of this universe, which can only be explained by the language of physics.
However, people find it complicated to learn. So, this project promotes the use of
simulation and demonstrations for understanding physics. Youths all over the world are
not able to carry out experiments due to the absence of apparatus. With the use of
simulation, the students can learn using simulation and experiment also without the need
of buying the apparatus.
Some of the future scope of my project are;
1. Flexibility; The projects and experiments of physics are carried out using tons of
data and reading. However this project was only accomplished by demonstrating
two conditions where h = 0 m and h = 7 m. The initial velocity was also only 15
m/s and 20 m/s. So, due to less observations, others might not have the same
result. Thus, suggestions and modifications are highly welcomed.
2. Referential Papers; This project can work as a reference for future experiments
and researches on the same topic. Thus, it may help future research up to some
extent.

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 REFERENCES

1. Introduction to projectile and its types

-Principle of Physics (Ayam Publications)
2. Derivation of path of projectile, time of flight and horizontal range of
horizontal projectile
- Principle of Physics (Ayam Publications)
3. Derivation of path of projectile, time of flight, horizontal range and
maximum height of projectile with an angle with the horizontal
- Principle of Physics (Ayam Publications)
4. Simulation and observation of variation of horizontal range with the angle of
projection
- PHET Simulation

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