Projectile Motion:

A particle moves in a vertical plane

with some initial velocity 𝑣0 but its
acceleration is always the freefall
acceleration 𝑔, which is downward.
Such a particle is called a
projectile (meaning that it is
projected or launched), and its Figure: The trajectory of an idealized
motion is called projectile motion. projectile.

Examples: A batted baseball, a thrown football, a package dropped from an

airplane, and a bullet shot from a rifle are all projectiles.
Sketch of the path taken in projectile motion:
Sketch of the path taken in projectile motion (Step-by-Step):

Step 1
 Step 2
Step 3

Step 4 Step 5

Figure: The projectile motion of an object launched into the air at the origin of
a coordinate system and with launch velocity 𝑣0 at angle 𝜃0 . The motion is a
combination of vertical motion (constant acceleration) and horizontal motion
(constant velocity), as shown by the velocity components.
The adjacent Figure
shows two balls with
different x-motion but
identical y-motion; one
is dropped from rest
and the other is
projected horizontally,
but both balls fall the
same distance in the
same time.
The Horizontal Motion:
At any time t, the projectile’s horizontal displacement 𝑥 − 𝑥0 from an initial
position 𝑥0 is given by
1
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 𝑣0𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2
2
Where 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠, 𝑎𝑥 = 0
Using 𝑣0𝑥 = 𝑣0 cos 𝜃0 we can write

𝑥 − 𝑥0 = (𝑣0 cos 𝜃0 ) 𝑡 ……….. (1)

At any time t, the projectile’s horizontal velocity 𝑣0𝑥 = 𝑣𝑥
The Vertical Motion:
At any time t, the projectile’s vertical displacement y − 𝑦0 from an initial
position 𝑦0 is given by
1
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 𝑣0𝑦 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2 [ where, 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔]
2
1
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = (𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 ) 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2 [ where, 𝑣0𝑦 = 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 ]
2
……………………… (2)
At any time t, the projectile’s vertical velocity

𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 − 𝑔𝑡
And also we can express 𝑣𝑦 𝑎𝑠

𝑣𝑦2 = 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 2 − 2 𝑔 𝑦 − 𝑦0

 Show that the path of a projectile is a parabola.

From equation (1) we can write

𝑥 − 𝑥0
𝑡=
𝑣0 cos 𝜃0
Using the value of t in equation (2), we get

𝑥−𝑥0 1 𝑥−𝑥0 2
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 − 𝑔
𝑣0 cos 𝜃0 2 𝑣0 cos 𝜃0
 For simplicity, we let 𝑥0 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦0 = 0.

Therefore, the equation becomes

2
1 𝑥
𝑦 = tan 𝜃0 𝑥 − 𝑔 ………………… (3)
2 𝑣0 cos 𝜃0
Where 𝜃0 , 𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣0 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠.

Equation (3) is of the form 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 ∓ 𝑏𝑥 2 , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠.

This is the equation of a parabola, so the path is parabolic.

 Equations for the horizontal range and the maximum
horizontal range of a projectile:
The horizontal range R of the projectile is the horizontal distance the
projectile has traveled when it returns to its initial height (the height at which
it is launched). That is 𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 𝑅 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 0.
Using 𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 𝑅 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 0 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (2), we get

𝑅 = (𝑣0 cos 𝜃0 ) 𝑡 [From equation (1)]

1
And 0 = (𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 ) 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2 [From equation (2)]
2

1 2 2𝑣0 sin 𝜃0
𝑜𝑟 (𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 ) 𝑡 = 𝑔𝑡 𝑜𝑟 𝑡 =
2 𝑔
2𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 𝑣02 (2 sin 𝜃0 cos 𝜃0 )
Therefore, 𝑅 = (𝑣0 cos 𝜃0 ) =
𝑔 𝑔
𝑣02 sin 2𝜃0 Caution: This equation does not give the
𝑅= ……(3) horizontal distance traveled by a projectile
𝑔 when the final height is not the launch height.
 The value of R is maximum in equation (3) when sin 2𝜃0 = 1

𝑜𝑟 2𝜃0 = sin−1 1

𝑜𝑟 2𝜃0 = 900 [𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 sin−1 1 = 900 ]

𝜃0 = 450

The Effects of the Air (in the projectile motion):

The launch angle is 60° and the launch speed is 44.7 m/s.
Problem 22 (Book chapter 4):
𝜃0 = 00 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣0 =?
A small ball rolls horizontally off the
edge of a tabletop that is 1.20 m high.
It strikes the floor at a point 1.52 m
horizontally from the table edge. (a) 𝑦 − 𝑦0 = −1.2 𝑚 𝑡 =?
How long is the ball in the air? (b)
What is its speed at the instant it 𝑥0 𝑥
leaves the table? 𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 1.52 𝑚

Answer: (a) We know (b) We know

1 2 𝑥 − 𝑥0 = (𝑣0 cos 𝜃0 ) 𝑡
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = (𝑣0 sin 𝜃0 ) 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡
2
1.52 = (𝑣0 cos 00 )( 0.495)
−1.20 = (𝑣0 𝑠𝑖𝑛 00 ) 𝑡 − 4.9𝑡 2
1.52 = (𝑣0 cos 00 )( 0.495)
−1.20 = 0 − 4.9𝑡 2
1.52 = (𝑣0 )(1)(0.495)
1.2
𝑡= = 0.495 𝑠 1.52
4.9 𝑣0 = = 3.07 𝑚/𝑠
0.495