MOTION IN 2D:

PROJECTILE MOTION
EXAMPLES
ERICKA M. DEREZ, LPT
GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 VARIATIONS OF PROJECTILE MOTION
1 Full parabola 3 Non-symmetrical

𝑡𝑢𝑝 𝑡𝑢𝑝 ≠ 𝑡𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛

𝑡𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛
𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑡𝑢𝑝 + 𝑡𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛
Projectile Motion

𝑡𝑢𝑝 = 𝑡𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 → 𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 2𝑡𝑢𝑝

2 Half-parabola
𝑣𝑖𝑥 An object may be
fired horizontally

𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑡𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛
 EQUATIONS IN PROJECTILE MOTION
Uniform Motion (UM) FREE FALL | y - direction
x - direction
1 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
∆𝑥 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
1 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = = 2 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
1 2
2 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 3 ∆𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡
2
2 2
4 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 2𝑔∆𝑦
EXAMPLE #1
An airplane moves horizontally to the right with a
constant velocity of 115 m/s at an altitude of 1050 m.
The plane releases a “care package” that falls to the
ground, along a curved trajectory.
A. Determine the time required for the package to hit
the ground.
B. Calculate the range of the package
C. Find the magnitude of the velocity of the package
and the direction of the velocity vector just as the
package impacts with the ground.
EXAMPLE #1
An airplane moves horizontally to the right with a constant velocity of
115 m/s at an altitude of 1050 m. The plane releases a “care package”
that falls to the ground, along a curved trajectory.
A. Determine the time required for the package to hit the ground.
ILLUSTRATION: GIVEN:
𝑚
𝑣𝑖 𝑣𝑖 = 115
𝑠
∆𝑦 = 1050𝑚

ALTITUDE
REQUIRED:
TIME
 EQUATIONS IN PROJECTILE MOTION
Uniform Motion (UM) FREE FALL | y - direction
x - direction
1 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
∆𝑥 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
1 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = = 2 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
1 2
2 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 3 ∆𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡
2
2 2
4 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 2𝑔∆𝑦
EXAMPLE #1
An airplane moves horizontally to the right with a constant velocity of
115 m/s at an altitude of 1050 m. The plane releases a “care package”
that falls to the ground, along a curved trajectory.
A. Determine the time required for the package to hit the ground.
ILLUSTRATION: GIVEN: REQUIRED:
𝑚 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 0
𝑣𝑖 = 115 TIME
𝑣𝑖 𝑠
∆𝑦 = 1050𝑚 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖
𝑚
𝑔 = −9.8 2
𝑠

ALTITUDE
EQUATION & SOLUTION:
1
∆𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 + 2 𝑔𝑡 2 ; ∆𝑦 = −1050𝑚 & 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 0
1 2 2
2∆𝑦 2∆𝑦
∆𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡 → 𝑡 = → 𝑡=
2 𝑔 𝑔
EXAMPLE #1
An airplane moves horizontally to the right with a constant velocity of
115 m/s at an altitude of 1050 m. The plane releases a “care package”
that falls to the ground, along a curved trajectory.
A. Determine the time required for the package to hit the ground.
ILLUSTRATION: GIVEN: REQUIRED:
𝑚 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 0
𝑣𝑖 = 115 TIME
𝑣𝑖 𝑠
∆𝑦 = 1050𝑚 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖
𝑚
𝑔 = −9.8 2
𝑠

ALTITUDE
EQUATION & SOLUTION:
2∆𝑦 2 −1050𝑚
𝑡= = 𝑚 ≈ 14.6𝑠
𝑔 −9.8 2
𝑠
EXAMPLE #1
An airplane moves horizontally to the right with a constant velocity of
115 m/s at an altitude of 1050 m. The plane releases a “care package”
that falls to the ground, along a curved trajectory.
B. Calculate the range
ILLUSTRATION: GIVEN:
𝑚
𝑣𝑖 𝑣𝑖 = 115
𝑠
∆𝑦 = 1050𝑚
𝑡 = 14.6

ALTITUDE

∆𝑥
 EQUATIONS IN PROJECTILE MOTION
Uniform Motion (UM) FREE FALL | y - direction
x - direction
1 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
∆𝑥 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
1 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = = 2 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
1 2
2 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 3 ∆𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡
2
2 2
4 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 2𝑔∆𝑦
EXAMPLE #1
An airplane moves horizontally to the right with a constant velocity of
115 m/s at an altitude of 1050 m. The plane releases a “care package”
that falls to the ground, along a curved trajectory.
B. Calculate the range
ILLUSTRATION: GIVEN: EQUATION & SOLUTION:
𝑚 Since x-motion is constant velocity
𝑣𝑖 𝑣𝑖 = 115 𝑚
𝑠 𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 115
∆𝑦 = 1050𝑚 𝑠
𝑡 = 14.6𝑠 ∆𝑥
𝑣𝑖𝑥 = → ∆𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 ∆𝑡
∆𝑡
ALTITUDE
𝑚
∆𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 ∆𝑡 = 115 14.6𝑠 = 1,679𝑚
𝑠

∆𝑥
EXAMPLE #1
An airplane moves horizontally to the right with a constant velocity of
115 m/s at an altitude of 1050 m. The plane releases a “care package”
that falls to the ground, along a curved trajectory.
C. Find the magnitude of the velocity of the package and the direction of
the velocity vector just as the package impacts with the ground.
ILLUSTRATION: GIVEN: REQUIRED:
𝑚
𝑣𝑖 = 115 𝑣𝑥
𝑠
∆𝑦 = 1050𝑚
𝑚 𝑣𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑
𝑔 = −9.8 2 𝑣𝑦
𝑠
𝑡 = 14.6𝑠
EQUATION & SOLUTION:
Since x-motion is constant velocity
𝑚
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 115
𝑠
 EQUATIONS IN PROJECTILE MOTION
Uniform Motion (UM) FREE FALL | y - direction
x - direction
1 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
∆𝑥 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
1 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = = 2 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
1 2
2 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 3 ∆𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡
2
2 2
4 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 2𝑔∆𝑦
EXAMPLE #1
An airplane moves horizontally to the right with a constant velocity of
115 m/s at an altitude of 1050 m. The plane releases a “care package”
that falls to the ground, along a curved trajectory.
C. Find the magnitude of the velocity of the package and the direction of
the velocity vector just as the package impacts with the ground.
ILLUSTRATION: GIVEN: EQUATION & SOLUTION:
𝑚
𝑣𝑖 = 115 y-motion is freefall
𝑠 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡 ; 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 0
∆𝑦 = 1050𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
𝑚 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑔𝑡 = −9.8 2 14.6𝑠 = 143
𝑔 = −9.8 2 𝑠 𝑠
𝑠
𝑡 = 14.6𝑠
EXAMPLE #1
An airplane moves horizontally to the right with a constant velocity of
115 m/s at an altitude of 1050 m. The plane releases a “care package”
that falls to the ground, along a curved trajectory.
C. Find the magnitude of the velocity of the package and the direction of
the velocity vector just as the package impacts with the ground.
ILLUSTRATION: EQUATION & SOLUTION:
𝑚
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 115 MAGNITUDE:
𝑠
𝑚 𝑚 2 𝑚 2 𝑚
𝑣𝑓𝑦 = −143 𝑣= 𝑣𝑥2 + 𝑣𝑦2 = 115 + −143 ≈ 184
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠 𝑠

ANGLE AND DIRECTION:

Velocity before hitting the ground is
𝑚
𝜑 𝑣𝑦 −143 𝑚
𝜑 = tan−1 = tan−1 𝑠 ≈ −51.2° 𝑣 = 184 , 51.2° below the horizontal
𝑣𝑥 𝑚 𝑠
115 𝑠
EXAMPLE 2

A man standing at rooftop

thrown a stone with initial
velocity of 20.0 m/s, 30° from
horizontal, the height of a
building is 45.0m. Calculate
A. Time to hit the ground
B. Velocity before hitting the
ground
EXAMPLE 2

A. Time to hit the ground

GIVEN:
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
𝑣𝑖 = 20.0 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 20.0 cos 30° = 17.3
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
𝜃 = 30.0° 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 20.0 sin 30° = 10.0
𝐻𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑 = 45.0𝑚 𝑠 𝑠
 EQUATIONS IN PROJECTILE MOTION
Uniform Motion (UM) FREE FALL | y - direction
x - direction
1 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
∆𝑥 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
1 𝑣𝑥 = = 2 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
1 2
2 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 3 ∆𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡
2
2 2
4 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 2𝑔∆𝑦
 EXAMPLE 2

A. Time to hit the ground

GIVEN:
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
𝑣𝑖 = 20.0 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 20.0 cos 30° = 17.3
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
𝜃 = 30.0° 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 20.0 sin 30° = 10.0
𝐻𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑 = 45.0𝑚 𝑠 𝑠

1 𝑚
∆𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡 2 ; ∆𝑦 = 𝐻𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑 = −45.0𝑚 & 𝑔 = −9.8 2
2 𝑠
𝑚 1
−45.0𝑚 = 10.0 𝑡 + −9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2 𝑡 2
𝑠 2
𝑚 𝑚
0 = −4.9 2 𝑡 2 + 10.0 𝑡 + 45𝑚
𝑠 𝑠

Let’s use quadratic equation!

 EXAMPLE 2

A. Time to hit the ground

Let’s use quadratic formula!
a𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 Standard form of
quadratic equation
−𝑏 ± 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥= Quadratic formula
2𝑎
𝑚 2 𝑚
−4.9 𝑡 + 10.0 𝑡 + 45𝑚 = 0
𝑠2 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚 2 𝑚
−10.0 ± 10.0 − 4 −4.9 45𝑚
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠2
𝑡= 𝑚
2 −4.9
𝑠2

𝑡1 = −2.18𝑠 𝑡2 = 4.22𝑠
EXAMPLE 2
B. Velocity before hitting the ground
GIVEN:
𝑚 𝑚
𝑣𝑖 = 20.0 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 17.3
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚
𝜃 = 30.0° 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 10.0
𝑠
𝐻𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑 = 45.0𝑚 𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 4.22𝑠

𝑣𝑥

𝑣𝑦 𝑣𝑏ℎ𝑔

Since x-motion is constant velocity

𝑚
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 17.3
𝑠
 EQUATIONS IN PROJECTILE MOTION
Uniform Motion (UM) FREE FALL | y - direction
x - direction
1 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
∆𝑥 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
1 𝑣𝑥 = = 2 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
1 2
2 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 3 ∆𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡
2
2 2
4 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 2𝑔∆𝑦
EXAMPLE 2
B. Velocity before hitting the ground
GIVEN:
𝑚 𝑚
𝑣𝑖 = 20.0 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 17.3
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚
𝜃 = 30.0° 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 10.0
𝑠
𝐻𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑 = 45.0𝑚 𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 4.22𝑠

𝑣𝑥 𝑚
𝑣𝑥 = 17.3
𝑠

𝑣𝑦 𝑣𝑏ℎ𝑔
𝑚
𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡 ; 𝑔 = −9.8 2 & 𝑡 = 𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡
𝑠
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 10.0 + −9.8 2 4.22 𝑠 = −31.4 = 𝑣𝑦
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
EXAMPLE 2
B. Velocity before hitting the ground
𝑚
𝑣𝑥 = 17.3
𝑠
𝑚
𝑣𝑦 = −31.4
𝑠
MAGNITUDE:
𝑚 2 𝑚 2 𝑚
𝑣𝑏ℎ𝑔 = 𝑣𝑥2 + 𝑣𝑦2 = 17.3 + −31.4 ≈ 35.9
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
ANGLE AND DIRECTION:
𝑚
𝑣 −31.4
𝑦
𝜑 = tan−1 = tan−1 𝑠 ≈ −61.1°
𝑣𝑥 𝑚
17.3
𝑠
Velocity before hitting the ground is
𝑚
𝑣𝑏ℎ𝑔 = 35.9 , 61.1° below the horizontal
𝑠
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAXIMUM RANGE AND ANGLE
A PROJECTILE IS FIRED AT AN INITIAL VELOCITY, 𝑣𝑖 ,
AT AN ANGLE, 𝜃, FROM +X. WHAT SHOUD BE THE
ANGLE TO OBTAIN THE MAXIMUM RANGE?

𝑣𝑖

𝜽 =?

SO ∆𝑥 WILL BE MAXIMUM
 EQUATIONS IN PROJECTILE MOTION
Uniform Motion (UM) FREE FALL | y - direction
x - direction
1 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
∆𝑥 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
1 𝑣𝑥 = = 2 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
1 2
2 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 3 ∆𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡
2
2 2
4 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 2𝑔∆𝑦
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAXIMUM RANGE AND ANGLE
A PROJECTILE IS FIRED AT AN INITIAL VELOCITY, 𝑣𝑖 ,
AT AN ANGLE, 𝜃, FROM +X. WHAT SHOUD BE THE
ANGLE TO OBTAIN THE MAXIMUM RANGE?
Total
time Since x motion is UM (constant velocity) the
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥

∆𝑥
𝑣𝑥 = → ∆𝑥 = 𝑣𝑥 ∆𝑡
∆𝑡
 EQUATIONS IN PROJECTILE MOTION
Uniform Motion (UM) FREE FALL | y - direction
x - direction
1 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
∆𝑥 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
1 𝑣𝑥 = = 2 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
1 2
2 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 3 ∆𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡
2
2 2
4 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 2𝑔∆𝑦
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAXIMUM RANGE AND ANGLE
A PROJECTILE IS FIRED AT AN INITIAL VELOCITY, 𝑣𝑖 ,
AT AN ANGLE, 𝜃, FROM +X. WHAT SHOUD BE THE
ANGLE TO OBTAIN THE MAXIMUM RANGE?
Total Since x motion is UM (constant velocity)
time
the
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

∆𝑥 ∆𝑥 = 𝑣𝑥 ∆𝑡 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡 (eq. 1)

𝑣𝑥 = → ∆𝑥 = 𝑣𝑥 ∆𝑡
∆𝑡
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAXIMUM RANGE AND ANGLE
A PROJECTILE IS FIRED AT AN INITIAL VELOCITY, 𝑣𝑖 ,
AT AN ANGLE, 𝜃, FROM +X. WHAT SHOUD BE THE
ANGLE TO OBTAIN THE MAXIMUM RANGE?
Total 𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 2(𝑡𝑢𝑝 )
time

∆𝑥 = 𝑣𝑥 ∆𝑡 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡 (eq. 1)

 EQUATIONS IN PROJECTILE MOTION
Uniform Motion (UM) FREE FALL | y - direction
x - direction
1 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
∆𝑥 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
1 𝑣𝑥 = = 2 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
1 2
2 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 3 ∆𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡
2
2 2
4 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 2𝑔∆𝑦
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAXIMUM RANGE AND ANGLE
A PROJECTILE IS FIRED AT AN INITIAL VELOCITY, 𝑣𝑖 ,
AT AN ANGLE, 𝜃, FROM +X. WHAT SHOUD BE THE
ANGLE TO OBTAIN THE MAXIMUM RANGE?
Total 𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 2(𝑡𝑢𝑝 )
time For time up:
𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡 ; 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

0 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 + 𝑔𝑡𝑢𝑝

−𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
∆𝑥 = 𝑣𝑥 ∆𝑡 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡 (eq. 1) 𝑡𝑢𝑝 =
𝑔
−𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 −𝟐𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 2 =
𝑔 𝑔
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAXIMUM RANGE AND ANGLE
A PROJECTILE IS FIRED AT AN INITIAL VELOCITY, 𝑣𝑖 ,
AT AN ANGLE, 𝜃, FROM +X. WHAT SHOUD BE THE
ANGLE TO OBTAIN THE MAXIMUM RANGE?
Total −2𝒗𝟐𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 Using double angle identity:
time ∆𝑥 =
𝑔 sin 2𝜃 = 2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃

−𝒗𝟐𝒊 sin 2𝜃
∆𝑥 =
𝑔

∆𝑥 = 𝑣𝑥 ∆𝑡 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡 (eq. 1)

−𝟐𝒗𝒊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
∆𝑥 = 𝒗𝒊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑔
Maximum
value of sine −𝒗𝟐𝒊 sin 2𝜃
∆𝑥 =
𝑔
0 ≤ sin 2𝜃 ≤ 1
0° ≤ 2𝜃 ≤ 90°
2𝜃 ≤ 90° 𝜃 = 45°
Minimum
value of sine
 IN SUMMARY…
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
MAXIMUM RANGE AND ANGLE: MAXIMUM HEIGHT AND
ANGLE:
−𝒗𝟐𝒊 sin 2𝜃 −𝒗𝟐𝒊 sin2 𝜃
∆𝑥 = ∆y =
𝑔 2𝑔
EXAMPLE #2
𝑚 2
−𝒗𝟐𝒊 sin 2𝜃 − 25 𝑠 sin 2 30°
∆𝑥 = = 𝑚 = 55.2𝑚
𝑔 −9.8 2
𝑠

𝑚 2 2
−𝒗𝟐𝒊 sin2 𝜃 − 25 𝑠 sin 30°
∆y = = 𝑚 = 7.97 𝑚
2𝑔 2 −9.8 2
𝑠
GIVEN:
𝑚
𝑣𝑖 = 25
𝑠
𝜃 = 30° 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 + 𝑥
7.97 𝑚
REQUIRED:
∆𝑥 (Range)
∆𝑦 (Height)
55.2𝑚