PROJECTILE

MOTION
 Projectile motion

Projectile motion is a motion in

which an object is thrown near the
earth’s surface, and it moves along
the curved path under the action of
gravity only.
Motion of a snow boarder descending from a slope
Motion of a rider performing a bike stunt
Motion of water jets coming out from nozzles
Assumptions used in projectile motion

1. The effect due to air resistance is negligible.

2. The effect due to curvature of the earth is

negligible.

3. The effect due to rotation of the earth is

negligible.

4. The acceleration due to gravity is constant over

the range of motion.
Idealized model of projectile motion

v H

R
 Projectile
Any object which is projected in the air is
called as projectile.

Projectile

v
H
θ

R
 Point of projection

The point from which the object is

projected in air is called as point of
projection.
Point of v
projection
H
θ

R
 Velocity of projection

The velocity with which an object is

projected in air is called as velocity of
projection.
Velocity of
projection v
H
θ

R
 Angle of projection

The angle with the horizontal at which an object

is projected in air is called as angle of
projection.

v
Angle of
projection
H
θ

R
 Trajectory

The parabolic path followed by a projectile in air

is called its trajectory.

v Trajectory
H
θ

R
 Time of flight

Time taken by the projectile to cover the entire

trajectory is called as time of flight.

v
H
T
θ Time of
flight

R
 Maximum height of projectile

It is the maximum vertical distance travelled by

the projectile from the ground level during its
motion.
Maximum height
v
H
θ

R
 Horizontal range of projectile
It is the horizontal distance travelled by the
projectile during entire motion.

v
H
θ

R Horizontal range
horizontal and vertical motions are interdependen

• Both pink and yellow balls are

falling at the same rate.

• Yellow ball is moving horizontally

while it is falling have no effect
on its vertical motion.

• It means horizontal and vertical

motions are independent of each
other.
 Analysis of projectile motion

Motion diagram of a kicked football

 Analysis of projectile motion
Projectile motion Vertical motion +¿ Horizontal motion

𝑦 𝑦

vi 𝑦 vi
vi 𝑦

vi 𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
o vi 𝑥 o
Frame - 1
 Analysis of projectile motion
Projectile motion Vertical motion +¿ Horizontal motion

𝑦 𝑦

v1 𝑦 v1 v1 𝑦
v1 𝑥

v1 𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
o o
Frame - 2
 Analysis of projectile motion
Projectile motion Vertical motion +¿ Horizontal motion

𝑦 𝑦

v2
v2 𝑦

v2 𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
o o
Frame - 3
 Analysis of projectile motion
Projectile motion Vertical motion +¿ Horizontal motion

𝑦 𝑦

v3 𝑥
v3 𝑦 v3 v3 𝑦

v3 𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
o o
Frame - 4
 Analysis of projectile motion
Projectile motion Vertical motion +¿ Horizontal motion

𝑦 𝑦

vf 𝑥 vf 𝑥
o 𝑥 o 𝑥
Frame - 5 vf 𝑦 vf vf 𝑦
 Analysis of projectile motion
𝑦
v 2=v 2 𝑥 v 2 𝑦 =0
v1 𝑦 v1 v3 𝑥 v1 𝑦
v1 𝑥 v3 𝑦 v3 v3 𝑦
vi −g
vi 𝑦 vi 𝑦

vf 𝑥
o vi 𝑥 𝑥

vi 𝑥 v1 𝑥 v2 𝑥 v3 𝑥 vf 𝑦 vf vf 𝑦
vf 𝑥
 Important conclusion

Projectile motion is a combination of two

motions:

a)Horizontal motion with constant

velocity

b)Vertical motion with constant

acceleration
 Equation of trajectory
( )
2
The horizontal distance travelled by the x 1 x
y =v i s∈θ × − g
projectile in time ‘t’ along -axis is, v i cos θ 2 v i cos θ
x= vi 𝑥 t
x=( v i cos θ ) t
x
y =( tan θ ) x −
( 2
g
2
2 v i cos θ
x
)
2

t= … … ..( 1)
v i cos θ This is the equation of trajectory of a projectile.
The vertical distance travelled by the projectile As , and are constant for a given projectile, we
in time ‘t’ along -axis is, can write
1 2
y =v i 𝑦 t − gt α∧g
2 tan θ =¿ 2 2
=β¿
2 v i cos θ
1 2
y =( v i s ∈θ) t − g t … … ..( 2) y =α x − β x
2
2
Substituting the value of ‘t’ from eq.(1) in eq.(2) Thus is a quadratic function of . Hence the
we get, trajectory of a projectile is a parabola.
 Equation for time of flight
The vertical distance travelled by the 2 v i sin θ
projectile in time ‘t’ along -axis is, T=
g
1 2
y =v i y t − gt This is the equation for time of flight.
2
For symmetrical parabolic path, time
For entire motion, and of ascent is equals to time of
descent.
1 2 T
0=(v i s∈θ) T − g T T A =T D =
2 2

1 2 v i sin θ
g T =(v i s∈θ) T T A =T D =
2 g
 Equation for horizontal range
The equation of trajectory of projectile is 2
v i ( 2 sin θ cos θ )
given by, R=
g
y =( tan θ ) x −
( 2
g
2
2 v i cos θ)x
2

R=
2
v i sin 2 θ
g
For entire motion, and
This is the equation for horizontal range.
0=( tan θ ) R −
( 2
g
2
2 v i cos θ
R
2
) For a given velocity of projection the range
will be maximum when ,

( 2
g
2
2 v i cos θ)R
2
=( tan θ ) R 2 θ =90 ° ∧θ =45 °
Thus range of the projectile is maximum if
g sin θ it is projected in a direction inclined to the
× R=
2 2
2 v i cos θ cos θ horizontal at an angle of .
Two angles of projection for the same horizontal range
The equation for horizontal range is From eq. (1) & (2) we say that,
given by, R=R ′
2
v i sin 2 θ … … ..(1) Thus horizontal range of projectile is same
R=
g for any two complementary angles
Replacing by , i.e. and
2
v sin 2( 90 ° − θ)
i
𝑦 60 °
R ′=
g
2
v sin (180 ° − 2 θ)
i
30°
R ′=
g
2
v i sin 2 θ… … ..(2)
R ′= R= R ′ 𝑥
g o
 Equation for maximum height
The third kinematical equation for vertical Case-1: Angle of projection is .
motion is,
( v i sin 45 ° )2
2 2 H=
v f 𝑦 =v iy −2 g y 2 g
2
At maximum height: v ( 1/ √ 2 )
2
i
2
vi
H= ⇒ H max =
2 2 g 4g
0=( v i sin θ ) − 2 g H
2
Case-2: Angle of projection is .
2 g H =( v i sin θ )
( v i sin 90 ° ) 2
( v i sin θ ) 2 H=
2 g
H=
2 g vi ( 1)
2 22
vi
H= ⇒H=
This is the equation for maximum height. 2 g 2g
Thank
you