CAVENDISH UNIVERSITY

MEDICAL SCHOOL
FOUNDATION PHYSICS
UNIT 5- PROJECTILE MOTION

Projectile Motion

An object that moves in a vertical plane under the influence of the gravitational acceleration with

some initial velocity u and in an arbitrary direction θ is undergoing projectile motion.

A projectile move horizontally at constant speed (with no acceleration along the horizontal) as it

falls vertically with an acceleration g.

In general, we resolve velocity along the x and y axis and study the motion of the projectile

along x and y axis independent of each other.

Consider an object that is projected with a velocity u at an angle θ as shown in the figure below.

V=√𝑣𝑥 2 + 𝑣𝑦 2

𝑢𝑥 =ucos 𝜃

𝑢𝑦 =usin 𝜃
𝑣𝑦
𝜃 = tan−1
𝑣𝑥
The parabolic path followed by the projectile is called the trajectory and the angle θ is called the

angle of departure.

The velocity vector v changes in both magnitude and direction

The x – component of velocity remains constant in time because there is no acceleration along

the horizontal direction.

The y – component of velocity is zero at the peak of the path.

R is the maximum distance along the x – axis and is known as the range. It is given by:
𝑢2 sin 2𝜃
R=
𝑔

At 𝜃 = 45°, R is maximum as;

𝑢2
R= 𝑔 because 2𝜃 = 2(45) = 90 𝑎𝑛𝑑 sin 90 = 1

H is the maximum height reached by the projectile. It is reached when the vertical component𝑣𝑦

becomes zero. It is found as follows:

from 𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠

𝑣𝑦 2 = 𝑢𝑦 2 − 2𝑔𝐻 (the negative comes in because g UP NEGATIVE)

But 𝑣𝑦 =0, so;

𝑢𝑔 2 =2gH
𝑢𝑦 2
H= 2𝑔 but 𝑢𝑦 = sin 𝜃

𝑢2 si𝑛2 𝜃
H=
2𝑔
Applications
1. A baseball is thrown with an initial velocity of 100 m/s at an angle of 30° above the horizontal as
shown in the figure below. How far from the throwing point will the baseball attain its original
level?

2. A ball is thrown in such a way that its initial vertical and horizontal components of velocity

are 40 m/s and 20 m/s, respectively. Estimate the total time of flight and the distance the ball is
from its starting point when it lands.

3. As shown in the figure below, a projectile is fired horizontally with a speed of 30 m/s from

the top of a cliff 80 m high.

a) How long will it take to strike the level ground at the base of the cliff?
b) How far from the foot of the cliff will it strike?
c) With what velocity will it strike?
Prescribed Books
1. Serway, Raymond and Vuille, Chris (2012). College Physics: 9th Edition, Charles
Hartford: United States of America.
2. Frederick, Bueche and Eugene, Hecht (1997). Schaum’s Outline, College Physics.
McGraw-Hill: United States of America.
Recommended Books
Duncan, Tom (2000). Advanced Physics: 5 th Edition, Hodder Education: London.