PROJECTILE MOTION

- Motion along a curved path or trajectory

- Elements of BOTH straight line motion & freely-falling bodies apply
here.

“A Projectile is any body that is given initial velocity and then follows a path
determined by the effects of gravitational acceleration & air resistance.”

Consider a projectile (ball) thrown at an angle instead of horizontally

θ
 Projectile Motion – Curvillinear Translation
+y
Vy = 0
V1y V1
V = Vx
V2x

V1x Δymax or H V2

Vo V2y
Voy
VFx
θ
+x
(0,0) Vox θ
Origin R

−y VFy VF

* VF = Velocity @ impact ≠ 0 VFx = x-comp of VF VFy = y-comp of VF

VO = Initial/Project Velocity VOx = x-comp of VO VOy = y-comp of VO

V = Velocity @ Highest point Vy = y-comp of V

Vx = x-comp of V
Vn = Velocity @ a certain point Vnx = x-comp of V1x, V2x..etc Vny = y-comp of V1y, V2y..etc

Ex V1, V2
Projectile Motion – Consider X – components :
Analyze using Motion along a Straight Line
Vox = VO cosθ {x-component of VO}
For a projectile , the HORIZONTAL component
+y
of the velocity is CONSTANT
V = Vx = Vox
t
V2x = Vox

V1x = Vox

VFx = Vox
θ
+x
(0,0) Vox θ
Origin
s
−y
Using Kinematics Equation (2) to Since VX ‘s are the same :
determine “s “ at any time (t)
Hence aX = 0
S = VOXt + ½ aXt 2

S = VOXt
Projectile Motion – Consider Y – components :
Analyze using Freely Falling Bodies
Voy = VO sinθ {y-component of VO}
For a projectile , the VERTICAL component of the
+y
velocity is NOT CONSTANT
Vy = 0
V1y
V
t

Δy = h V2y
Voy
θ
+x
(0,0) θ
Origin Using Kinematics Equation (2) to determine Δy or h
at any time (t)
−y VFy
h = VOYt + ½ aYt 2

aY = g = − 9.8m/s2 = − 980cm/s2 = − 32 ft/s2

h = VOYt + ½ gt2
 PROJECTILE MOTION EQUATIONS
X - Component Y - Component
VOY = VOsinθ
VOX = VOcosθ
VnY = VOY + gt
VOX = VX = V1x = V2x = VnX
VY = 0 (at max. Height)

s = VOX t h = VOY t + ½ gt2

VnY2 = VOY2 + 2gh

g= − 9.8 m/s2 = − 980 cm/s2 = − 32 ft/s2

 PROJECTILE MOTION EQUATIONS
MAXIMUM HEIGHT [ H ] RANGE [ R ]
Δy = VOYt + ½ gt2 Δy = H Δx = VOXt Δx = R
H = VOYt + ½ gt2 VOY = VO sin θ R = VOXT VOX= VO cos θ
@ H , VY = 0
T=? t = (VO sinθ) / g
VY = VOY + gt t=?
0 = + VO sinθ + g t T = 2t = (2VO sinθ) / g
but we are using g as – 9.8 m/s
0 = + VO sinθ − gt R = {(VO cos θ)} {2(VO sinθ) / g}
t = (VO sinθ) / g
H = VOYt + ½ gt2 R = VO2 [2(cos θ)(sinθ)] / g
but we are using g as – 9.8 m/s
Recall : sine of sum of two angles
H = VOYt − ½ gt2
   sin (θ+β)  =  cos β sin θ + sin β cos θ
(VOsin θ)(VOsin θ) g [(VO sinθ)] 2
Let θ = β
H= −
g 2 g2    sin (2θ)  =  cos θ sin θ+ sin θ cos θ

(VOsin θ)2 (VO sinθ)2    sin (2θ)  =  2cos θ sin θ

H= −
g 2g
R = [ VO 2 (sin 2θ) ] / g
(VOsin θ)2 JUST FOR RANGE & MAX. H :
H=
2g g=+ 9.8 m/s2 = + 980 cm/s2 = + 32 ft/s2
COMMON LEVEL VELOCITY

+y
Vy = 0
V1
V1y V = Vx V2x |V1|= |V2|
V3y V1x
V2y
V3 V2 V4x |V3| = |V4|
V3x
V4y V4
Voy
Vo VFx
θ
+x
(0,0) Vox θ
Origin
* VF = Velocity @ impact ≠ 0

−y VFy VF
Due to its trajectory, the projectile passes again the same vertical level going
down, Velocity at that level are equal in magnitude, with their vertical
components, equal in magnitude but opposite in direction and their
horizontal components perfectly equal.
|V1| = |V2| V1y = −V2y V1x= V2x
|V3| = |V4| V3y = −V4y V3x= V4x
 Projectile Motion – Projectile fired horizontally
+y
(0,0) VOy = Vy =0
Origin
Here VO = Vx
VO V1x
All previous equations are
Δymax or H V1 useful.
V1y
EXCEPT for Range & Height
VFx
+x
θ
Δx

−y VFy VF

* VF = Velocity @ impact ≠ 0 VFx = x-comp of VF VFy = y-comp of VF

VO = Initial/Project Velocity VOx = x-comp of VO VOy = y-comp of VO

V = Velocity @ Highest point Vy = y-comp of V

Vx = x-comp of V
Vn = Velocity @ a certain point Vnx = x-comp of V1x, V2x..etc Vny = y-comp of V1y, V2y..etc

Ex V1, V2
 Projectile Motion – Projectile beyond the range
+y

Vy =0

V V2x

H V2
V2y
VFx
F +x
θ
R VFx
VFy VF
−y

At point F : Set VF as your initial velocity. Then apply the principles

of horizontally fired projectile, but note that VFy is NOT zero
1. A bullet is fired at an initial velocity of 350 m/s and at an angle of 50° with
the horizontal. Neglecting air resistance. Determine:
(a) The range, (b) The travel time of the bullet before hitting the ground

Given Required
Vo = 350 m/s, θ = 50° , (a) Range, (b) travel time - T
(b) T
Solution
S = VOX t
(a) Range
VOX = VO cosθ = (+350 m/s) (cos 50°)
R = Vo (sin 2θ) / g
2

VOX = 224.98 m/s

R = (350 m/s)2 (sin 100°) / (9.8 m/s2)
Let s = R & t =T
R = 12,310.1 m
R = VOXT
R = 12.3 km
12,310.1 m = (224.98 m/s)T
T = (12,310.1 m) / (224.98 m/s)
T = 54.72 s
2. A bullet is fired at an angle of 75° with the horizontal with an initial velocity
of 420 m/s. How high can it travel after 2 seconds? How far horizontally did it
travel after that same 2 seconds?

Given Required
Vo = 420 m/s, θ = 75° , h & s after t = 2 sec
Solution
s = VOX t
h = VOY + ½ g t 2

VOX = Vo cosθ = (+420 m/s) (cos 75°)

VOY = Vo sinθ = (+420 m/s) (sin 75°) VOX = +108.704 m/s
VOY = +405.689 m/s
s = (108.704 m/s)(2s)
h = (405.689 m/s)(2s) + ½ (-9.8m/s2)(2s)2 s = 217.407 m

h = (405.689 m/s)(2s) + ½ (-9.8m/s2)(2s)2

h = + 791.778 m
3. A ball is thrown from a tower 30 m high above the ground with a velocity of
300 m/s directed at 20° from the horizontal. How long will the ball hit the
ground?

Given Required
Vo = 300 m/s, θ = 20°, T – time for the ball to hit the ground
H = 30 m
Solution (Short Version)
h = VOYt + ½ g t2

VOY = Vo sinθ = (+300 m/s) (sin 20°)

VOY = +102.606 m/s

-30 m = (102.606)(T) + ½ (-9.8m/s2)(T)2

4.9T2 – 102.606T – 30 = 0
Using QF

T =21.228s
 4. A man in a hot-air baloon drops an apple at a height of 150 m. If the balloon
is rising at 15 m/s, find the highest point reached by the apple?

Required

Given Max height reached by the apple

(H)
Vo = +15 m/s,
Solution
θ = 90° ,
H = Δy + h
VFY2 = VOY2 + 2g(Δy)
Δy
VOY = Vo sinθ = (+15 m/s) (sin 90°)
H VOY = +15 m/s

0 = (15m/s)2 + 2(-9.8 m/s2)(Δy)

h = 150 m
Δy = 11.468 m

H = 11.468 m + 150 m

H= 161.468 m