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Projectile Motion: A Short Teaching Presentation

Presentation · July 2020

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.27881.93288

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Kamil Walczak
City University of New York - Queens College
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 Motion in 2-D Space

“Projectile Motion”

OBJECTIVES

➢ To discuss projectile motion as a combination

of a uniform horizontal motion and a uniformly
decelerated/accelerated vertical motion.

➢ To justify a few formulas and draw some general

conclusions on the basis of kinematic equations; and
to verify them via PhET interactive simulations.

Dr. Kamil Walczak

(Department of Science, Maritime College
State University of New York)
 Projectile Motion

y = 0
y
y 0 x
0 x
0 x y
0 m
0 y g = 9.8 2
s
 0 x
0 x Earth’s Surface x
y
Projectile Motion is a special motion of an object thrown
upward at a certain angle to the horizontal line which is
moving along a curved (parabolic) path under the action
of the force of gravity only (air resistance is neglected).

Kamil Walczak 07 / 16 / 2020

 Projectile Motion: Decomposition

Projectile Motion may be decomposed into two independent types of motion:

(1) the uniform (constant-velocity) straight-line motion along the x-axis
and (2) uniformly decelerated/accelerated motion along the y-axis (object
is affected only by the downward force of gravity, air resistance is ignored).

Initial velocity in the projectile motion:


0 0 = 0 x î + 0 y ĵ
0 y
0 x = 0 cos( )

 0 y = 0 sin( )
0 x

Kamil Walczak 07 / 16 / 2020

 Projectile Motion: Basic Equations

Kinematic equations for horizontal motion:

ax = 0  x = 0 x = 0 cos()

x0 = 0 x = 0 x t = 0 t cos() (Eq.1)

Kinematic equations for vertical motion:

a y = −g  y = 0 y − gt = 0 sin( ) − gt (Eq.2)

1 2 1 2
y0 = 0 y = 0 y t − gt = 0 t sin( ) − gt (Eq.3)
2 2

Kamil Walczak 07 / 16 / 2020

 Parabolic Trajectory

Parabolic Trajectory of Projectile Motion

From Eq.1 – kinematic equation for horizontal position:

/ 0 cos() x
x = 0 t cos( ) t=
0 cos()

From Eq.3 – kinematic equation for vertical position:

1 2
y = 0 t sin( ) − gt
2
g
y = tan() x − 2 x 2
 Bx − Cx 2
=y
20 cos ()
2

(Twisted Parabola)

Kamil Walczak 07 / 16 / 2020

 Maximum Height

The Highest Point in Projectile Motion

From Eq.2 – kinematic equation for vertical velocity:

+ gt h 0 sin( )
 y = 0 sin( ) − gt h = 0 th =
/g g
for t = t h  y = h
From Eq.3 – kinematic equation for vertical position:
1 2 1 2
y = 0 t sin( ) − gt h = 0 t h sin( ) − gt h
2 2
02 sin 2 () 02 sin 2 () 02 sin 2 ()
h= − = =h
g 2g 2g

Kamil Walczak 07 / 16 / 2020

 Maximum Height: Typical Problems

An object is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity 70 m/s.

What would be the height (or vertical distance) which this object
can reach before start falling down?

A stone is projected at the cliff with an initial speed 42 m/s directed

at an angle 60 degrees above the horizontal. How long will it take
the stone to reach the maximum height above the ground?

Kamil Walczak 07 / 16 / 2020

 Horizontal Range

The Horizontal Range for Projectile Motion

The time travel for horizontal range is twice the time travel for maximum height:

20 sin( )
t d = 2t h =
g
for t = t d  x = R
From Eq.1 – kinematic equation for horizontal position:

x = 0 t cos( ) R = 0 t d cos( )

202 sin( ) cos() 02 sin( 2)

R= = =R for 2 = 90 O   = 45 O
g g
(Optimal Angle)

Kamil Walczak 07 / 16 / 2020

 Horizontal Range: Typical Problems

A stone is projected at the cliff with an initial speed 42 m/s directed

at an angle 60 degrees above the horizontal. Find the distance at which
the stone will hit the ground.

An object is thrown upward with an initial speed 35 m/s directed

at an angle 50 degrees above the horizontal. How much time will pass
until the object hits the ground?

Kamil Walczak 07 / 16 / 2020

 Height/Range Ratio

The Height/Range Ratio in Projectile Motion

Maximum Height: Horizontal Range:

02 sin 2 () 202 sin( ) cos()

h= R=
2g g

The ratio of maximum height to horizontal range:

h 02 sin 2 () g sin()

= =
R 2g 20 sin() cos() 4 cos()
2

h tan() for  = 45  tan() =1 

O h 1
=
=
R 4 R 4
(Optimal Angle)

Kamil Walczak 07 / 16 / 2020

 Concluding Remarks

Neglecting air resistance, the parabolic trajectory of the object and the time
of its travel in the projectile motion are independent of its mass and size!
Hypothesis: the trajectory of the object will become asymmetric
and the time travel will increase in the presence of air resistance.

Neglecting air resistance, the maximum height (the highest point) in the
projectile motion is independent of object’s mass and size!
Hypothesis: the maximum height will decrease when the analyzed object
is affected by air resistance.

Neglecting air resistance, the horizontal range is the longest for the optimal
angle at which the object is thrown equal to forty-five degrees!
Hypothesis: the optimal angle will decrease when air resistance is included.

Neglecting air resistance, the horizontal range at optimal angle is four times
larger than the maximum height (the highest point) in the projectile motion!
Hypothesis: this ratio will change when air resistance is taken into account.

Kamil Walczak 07 / 16 / 2020

 Drag Force (Air Resistance, Fluid Friction)

Drag force is a force acting opposite to the relative motion of any object
moving with respect to a surrounding fluid (air). The ultimate cause of a drag
is viscous friction. Drag force depends on the properties of the fluid, and on
the size, shape and speed of the object immersed within the fluid (air).

- density of the fluid - speed of the object

- drag coefficient - cross-sectional area

In the physics of sports, drag force is necessary to explain

the performance of basketball players and runners.

PhET Simulator: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/projectile-motion

Kamil Walczak
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07 / 16 / 2020