MOTION OF A PROJECTILE

Today’s Objectives:
Students will be able to: In-Class Activities:
1. Analyze the free-flight • Check Homework
motion of a projectile. • Reading Quiz
• Applications
• Kinematic Equations for
Projectile Motion
• Concept Quiz
• Group Problem Solving
• Attention Quiz

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 READING QUIZ

1. The downward acceleration of an object in free-flight

motion is
A) zero. B) increasing with time.
C) 9.81 m/s2. D) decreasing with time.

2. The horizontal component of velocity remains _________

during a free-flight motion.
A) zero B) constant
C) at 9.81 m/s2 D) decreasing with time

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 APPLICATIONS

A good kicker instinctively knows at what angle, θ, and

initial velocity, vA, he must kick the ball to make a field goal.
For a given kick “strength”, at what angle should the ball be
kicked to get the maximum distance?

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 APPLICATIONS
(continued)

A basketball is shot at a certain angle. What parameters

should the shooter consider in order for the basketball to
pass through the basket?

Distance, speed, the basket location, … anything else?

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 APPLICATIONS
(continued)

A firefighter needs to know the maximum height on the

wall she can project water from the hose. What
parameters would you program into a wrist computer to
find the angle, θ, that she should use to hold the hose?

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 MOTION OF A PROJECTILE (Section 12.6)

Projectile motion can be treated as two rectilinear motions,

one in the horizontal direction experiencing zero
acceleration and the other in the vertical direction
experiencing constant acceleration (i.e., from gravity).

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
MOTION OF A PROJECTILE (Section 12.6)

For illustration, consider the two balls on

the left. The red ball falls from rest,
whereas the yellow ball is given a
horizontal velocity. Each picture in this
sequence is taken after the same time
interval. Notice both balls are subjected to
the same downward acceleration since
they remain at the same elevation at any
instant. Also, note that the horizontal
distance between successive photos of the
yellow ball is constant since the velocity in
the horizontal direction is constant.

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
KINEMATIC EQUATIONS: HORIZONTAL MOTION

Since ax = 0, the velocity in the horizontal direction remains

constant (vx = vox) and the position in the x direction can be
determined by:
x = xo + (vox) t

Why is ax equal to zero (what assumption must be

made if the movement is through the air)?
Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 KINEMATIC EQUATIONS: VERTICAL MOTION
Since the positive y-axis is directed upward, ay = – g.
Application of the constant acceleration equations yields:

vy = voy – g t

y = yo + (voy) t – ½ g t2
vy2 = voy2 – 2 g (y – yo)

For any given problem, only two of these three

equations can be used. Why?

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE I
Given: vA and θ
Find: Horizontal distance it
travels and vC.
Plan:
Apply the kinematic
relations in x- and y-
directions.

Solution: Using vAx = 10 cos 30 and vAy = 10 sin 30

We can write vx = 10 cos 30

vy = 10 sin 30 – (9.81) t
x = (10 cos 30) t
y = (10 sin 30) t – ½ (9.81) t2

Since y = 0 at C
0 = (10 sin 30) t – ½ (9.81) t2  t = 0, 1.019 s
Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE I (continued)

Velocity components at C are;

vCx = 10 cos 30
= 8.66 m/s 

vCy = 10 sin 30 – (9.81) (1.019)

= -5 m/s = 5 m/s 

Horizontal distance the ball travels is;

x = (10 cos 30) t
x = (10 cos 30) 1.019 = 8.83 m

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE II

Given: Projectile is fired with vA=150

m/s at point A.

Find: The horizontal distance it

travels (R) and the time in the
air.

Plan: How will you proceed?

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE II

Given: Projectile is fired with vA=150

m/s at point A.

Find: The horizontal distance it

travels (R) and the time in the
air.

Plan: Establish a fixed x, y coordinate system (in this

solution, the origin of the coordinate system is placed
at A). Apply the kinematic relations in x- and y-
directions.

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE II (continued)
Solution:
1) Place the coordinate system at point A.
Then, write the equation for horizontal
motion.
+  xB = xA + vAx tAB
where xB = R, xA = 0, vAx = 150 (4/5) m/s

Range, R, will be R = 120 tAB

2) Now write a vertical motion equation. Use the distance

equation.
+ yB = yA + vAy tAB – 0.5 g tAB2
where yB = – 150, yA = 0, and vAy = 150(3/5) m/s
We get the following equation: –150 = 90 tAB + 0.5 (– 9.81) tAB2
Solving for tAB first, tAB = 19.89 s.
Then, R = 120 tAB = 120 (19.89) = 2387 m
Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 CONCEPT QUIZ

1. In a projectile motion problem, what is the maximum

number of unknowns that can be solved?

A) 1 B) 2

C) 3 D) 4

2. The time of flight of a projectile, fired over level ground,

with initial velocity Vo at angle θ, is equal to?

A) (vo sin q)/g B) (2vo sin q)/g

C) (vo cos q)/g D) (2vo cos q)/g

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING I

y Given: A skier leaves the ski

jump ramp at qA = 25o
x and hits the slope at
B.

Find: The skier’s initial speed vA.

Plan:

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING I

y Given: A skier leaves the ski

jump ramp at qA = 25o
x and hits the slope at
B.

Find: The skier’s initial speed vA.

Plan: Establish a fixed x,y coordinate system (in this

solution, the origin of the coordinate system is placed
at A). Apply the kinematic relations in x and y-
directions.

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING I
(continued)
Solution:
Motion in x-direction:
Using xB = xA + vox(tAB) => (4/5)100 = 0 + vA (cos 25) tAB

80 88.27
tAB= =
vA (cos 25) vA

Motion in y-direction:
Using yB = yA + voy(tAB) – ½ g(tAB)2

88.27 88.27 2
– 64 = 0 + vA(sin 25) { – }½ (9.81) { }
vA vA

vA = 19.42 m/s
Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING II

Given: The golf ball is struck

with a velocity of 24
m/s as shown.
Find: Distance d to where
y it will land.
x Plan:

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING II

Given: The golf ball is struck

with a velocity of 80
ft/s as shown.
Find: Distance d to where
y it will land.
x

Plan: Establish a fixed x, y coordinate system (in this

solution, the origin of the coordinate system is placed
at A). Apply the kinematic relations in x and y-
directions.

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING
II (continued)
Solution:
Motion in x-direction:
Using xB = xA + vox(tAB)
 d cos10 = 0 + 24 (cos 55) tAB y
tAB = 0.07154 d x

Motion in y-direction:
Using yB = yA + voy(tAB) – ½ g(tAB)2
 d sin10 = 0 + 24(sin 55)(0.07154 d) – ½ (9.81) (0.07154 d)2
 0 = 1.2328 d – 0.025104 d2

d = 0, 49.1 m
Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 ATTENTION QUIZ
1. A projectile is given an initial velocity
vo at an angle f above the horizontal.
The velocity of the projectile when it
hits the slope is ____________ the
initial velocity vo.

A) less than B) equal to

C) greater than D) none of the above

2. A particle has an initial velocity vo at angle f with respect

to the horizontal. The maximum height it can reach is
when
A) f = 30° B) f = 45°
C) f = 60° D) f = 90°

Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.