PROJECTILE MOTION

Physics 12

Part 1.

Part 2.

Key Points of the Lesson

Projectile

motion is motion with a constant

horizontal velocity combined with a constant
vertical acceleration
The projectile moves along a parabola
To solve problems involving projectile motion, you
can look at each case individually (we will look at 2
cases), and use the appropriate formulas to solve it.

Introduction
Projectile

Motion:
Motion through the air without a propulsion
Examples:

Part 1.
Motion of Objects Projected
Horizontally

v0

Motion

is accelerated

Acceleration

is constant,
and downward

a = g = -9.81m/s2

The

horizontal (x)
component of velocity is
constant
The

g = -9.81m/s2

horizontal and vertical

motions are independent of
each other, but they have a
common time
x

ANALYSIS OF MOTION
ASSUMPTIONS:

x-direction (horizontal):

uniform motion

y-direction (vertical):

accelerated motion

no air resistance

QUESTIONS:

What is the trajectory?

What is the total time of the motion?

What is the horizontal range?

What is the final velocity?

Frame of reference:

Equations of motion:

X
Uniform m.

Y
Accel. m.

ACCL.

ax = 0

ay = g = -9.81
m/s2

VELC.

vx = v0

vy = g t

x DSPL.

x = v0 t

y = h + g t2

v0

Trajectory
y

x = v0 t
y = h + g t2
Eliminate time, t
t = x/v0
y = h + g (x/v0)2

Parabola, open down

h

v01

v02 > v01

y = h + (g/v02) x2
y = (g/v02) x2 + h

Total Time, t
y = h + g t2
final y = 0

0 = h + g (t)2

ti =0

Solve for t:

t = tf - ti

t = 2h/(-g)
t = 2h/(9.81ms-2)
Total time of motion depends
only on the initial height, h

tf =t
x

Horizontal Range, x
x = v0 t

final y = 0, time is
the total time t

x = v0 t

t = 2h/(-g)
x = v0 2h/(-g)
Horizontal range depends on the
initial height, h, and the initial
velocity, v0

x
x

VELOCITY
vx = v0

v = vx

+ vy

= v02+g2t2

tan = v / v = g t / v

vy = g t

FINAL VELOCITY
vx = v0

t = 2h/(-g)
vy = g t
v = vx

+ vy

v = v02+g2(2h /(-g))
v = v02+ 2h(-g)

tan = g t / v0

= -(-g)2h/(-g) / v0

= -2h(-g) / v0
is negative
(below the
horizontal line)

HORIZONTAL THROW - Summary

h initial height, v0 initial horizontal velocity, g = -9.81m/s2

Trajectory

Half -parabola, open

down

Total time

t = 2h/(-g)

Horizontal Range

x = v0 2h/(-g)

Final Velocity

v = v02+ 2h(-g)
tan = -2h(-g) / v0

Part 2.
Motion of objects projected at an
angle

vi

Initial position: x = 0, y = 0
Initial velocity: vi = vi []

viy
Velocity components:
x- direction : vix = vi cos

y- direction : viy = vi sin

x

vix

y
a =g=
- 9.81m/s2

Motion is accelerated

Acceleration is constant, and

downward

a = g = -9.81m/s2

The horizontal (x) component of

velocity is constant

The horizontal and vertical

motions are independent of each
other, but they have a common
time

ANALYSIS OF MOTION:
ASSUMPTIONS

x-direction (horizontal):

uniform motion

y-direction (vertical):

accelerated motion

no air resistance

QUESTIONS

What is the trajectory?

What is the total time of the motion?

What is the horizontal range?

What is the maximum height?

What is the final velocity?

Equations of motion:
X
Uniform motion

Y
Accelerated motion

ACCELERATION

ax = 0

ay = g = -9.81 m/s2

VELOCITY

vx = vix= vi cos

vy = viy+ g t

vx = vi cos

vy = vi sin + g t

x = vix t = vi t cos

y = h + viy t + g t2

x = vi t cos

y = vi t sin + g t2

DISPLACEMENT

Equations of motion:
X
Uniform motion

Y
Accelerated motion

ACCELERATION

ax = 0

ay = g = -9.81 m/s2

VELOCITY

vx = vi cos

vy = vi sin + g t

DISPLACEMENT

x = vi t cos

y = vi t sin + g t2

x = vi t cos

Trajectory

y = vi t sin + g t2

Parabola, open down

Eliminate time, t

t = x/(vi cos )

vi x sin
gx 2
y
2
vi cos 2vi cos 2
y x tan

g
2
x
2vi2 cos 2

y = bx + ax2
x

Total Time, t
y = vi t sin + g t2
final height y = 0, after time interval t
0 = vi t sin + g (t)2
Solve for t:
x

0 = vi sin + g t

t =

2 vi sin
(-g)

t=0

Horizontal Range, x
x = vi t cos

final y = 0, time is
the total time t

x = vi t cos
t =

x =

2 vi sin
(-g)

sin (2 ) = 2 sin cos

2vi 2 sin cos

(-g)

x =

x
vi 2 sin (2 )
(-g)

Horizontal Range, x
x =
(deg) sin (2 )
0

0.00

15

0.50

30

0.87

45

1.00

60

0.87

75

0.50

90

vi 2 sin (2 )
(-g)
CONCLUSIONS:
Horizontal

range is greatest for the

throw angle of 450

Horizontal ranges are the same for

angles and (900 )

Trajectory and horizontal range

g
2
y x tan 2
x
2vi cos 2
35

vi = 25 m/s

30

15 deg
30 deg

25

45 deg

20

60 deg

15

75 deg

10
5
0
0

20

40

60

80

Velocity

Final

speed = initial speed (conservation of energy)

Impact

angle = - launch angle (symmetry of parabola)

Maximum Height
vy = vi sin + g t
y = vi t sin + g t2
At maximum height vy = 0

0 = vi sin + g tup
tup =

vi sin

tup = t/2

hmax = vi t upsin + g tup2

hmax = vi2 sin2 /(-g) + g(vi2 sin2 )/g2
vi2 sin2

(-g)
hmax =

2(-g)

Projectile Motion Final Equations

(0,0) initial position, vi = vi [] initial velocity, g = -9.81m/s2
Trajectory

Parabola, open down

Total time

t =

Horizontal range

Max height

x =

2 vi sin
(-g)
vi 2 sin (2 )
(-g)

hmax =

vi2 sin2
2(-g)

PROJECTILE MOTION - SUMMARY

Projectile

motion is motion with a constant

horizontal velocity combined with a constant
vertical acceleration
The projectile moves along a parabola

Projectile Motion Steps to Solve

1. Case 1

2. Draw a picture.

or

Case 2?

Projectile Motion Steps to Solve

3. What are you trying to solve for?
4. Is it in the
vertical plane (y)?
or horizontal plane (x)?
5. What are you given?
6. What formula can you use?
7. Solve showing all steps.
8. Answer with correct units (include direction for vector
quantities). Write a sentence to answer
the question.