PROJECTILE MOTION

In your previous classes you have studied the motion of objects in straight line. When objects move in straight line their
motion is one dimensional. But if you observe the motion of a football kicked by a player . The football moves upward
as well as forward and follow a curved path. The upward motion of football is along Y-axis and forward motion is along
X-axis. So we can say that motion of football is combination of horizontal and vertical motion i.e two dimensional
motion. These two motions do not affect on one another and can be treated independently.
 a multiflash photograph of two balls , one of which was projected horizontally at
the same time the other ball was dropped vertically downward. Note from the horizontal lines that both balls fall
vertically at the same rate.

When a player kicks a football, an initial force is given to the football and the football fly off with an angle θ with the
surface of earth. When the ball is in the air , there is no force on the football except gravity. Although air friction is
present but this force is neglected to make projectile motion simple. So the only force under consideration is gravity.
Hence projectile motion can be defined as It is two dimensional motion of an object under the action of gravity.

As it is two dimensional motion so the velocity of the football has two components at every point. The horizontal
component or X-component and the vertical component or y-component. The horizontal component of velocity
remains same through out the motion as there is no force acting in horizontal direction. So

Vix=Vfx= Vicosθ and ax=0

And horizontal distance can be calculated as

X=Vx X t

But the vertical component of velocity is under the influence of gravity and acceleration in vertical direction is a y = -g.
here gravitational acceleration is taken negative according to the rule that Y-axis in downward direction is negative and
g is acting downward.

When foot ball is kicked the vertical component of velocity decreases until the football reaches at its maximum height
where vertical velocity becomes zero. Now football moves downward and the vertical velocity start to increase and
becomes maximum just before striking the surface of earth.as shown in the fig.
So the initial and final vertical components will be as follow

Viy=Visinθ

Vfy=Visinθ- gt

So the velocity of football at any instant will be

V=√ Vx2 +Vy 2

And angle of velocity with horizontal surface will be calculated as

Vy
tan Θ =
Vx

the object moving with projectile motion is called projectile and its path is known as trajectory.

Some important terms related to projectile motion are Height, Range and Time of flight.

Height.
The maximum distance covered in the vertical direction is called the height of projectile. To calculate the height we
use the equation of motion.

2as=Vf2- Vi2 .

As initial vertical velocity of projectile is Visinθ and final vertical velocity or velocity at maximum height is zero . Here
a= -g and S= H so the equation becomes

2(-g)H = 0- Vi2sin2θ

Vi 2sin 2 θ
H=
2g
Time of Flight.
It is the time taken by projectile to travel from initial position or point of projection to the final position or
target.

During complete flight the projectile moves an equal distance in upward and downward motion so the net vertical
distance is zero. As initial vertical velocity is ViSinθ so we can calculate time by using eq

1 2.
S= Vit+ gt
2

1 2.
0= ViSinθ T - gt
2

2ViSin θ
T=
g

Range.
The distance covered by projectile on X-axis is called its range. Or the distance between initial and final position of the
projectile on X-axis. Range can be determined as

R= Vx . T

Where Vx is the horizontal velocity and T is the time of flight.

2ViSin θ
So R= ViCosθ.
g

Vi 2
R= . 2SinθCosθ
g

Vi 2
R= Sin2θ
g

From the above relation for range it is clear that range depends directly on velocity with which the projectile is thrown
and angle with which it is thrown. Range will be maximum when Sin2θ = 1 and it is 1 when θ= 45ͦ.
Application to ballistic Missiles.
When missile is launched with some initial push at an angle θ it exhibits projectile motion and moves freely under the
action of gravity and inertia. If the missile is unguided and unpowered then such a missile is called as ballistic missile.
And the curved path traced by a ballistic missile is called Ballistic trajectory. After an initial push there is no force acting
on ballistic missile except gravity. The missile moves forward due to inertia and dow ward due to gravity.

The ballistic missiles are useful only for short ranges. For distant targets and long ranges powered and remote control
guided missiles are used.