Projectile Motion at an Angle

Nathalie Ng
Jennifer Chen
 Aim: How can we fully understand
projectile motion at an angle?
Basically, were going to look at the basic
components of projectile motion and how they
relate to one another in order to make projectile
motion at an angle seem easier than Mr. Wala
says it is!
To understand projectile motion, lets look at the
motion of a ball thrown into the air and follow its
trajectory (fancy word for path of a projectile).
Note: assume that there are no forces acting on
the ball besides gravity.
 When Nelo first throws the baseball, its instantaneous velocity is the greatest. This
velocity has both a horizontal component (x) and a vertical component (y).
Gravity immediately acts on the baseball as it leaves Nelos hand, pulling the ball
down. This means that the vertical velocity will decrease as the ball gets higher
until it reaches its maximum height, or peak. Then, the vertical component will
increase as it falls in the direction of the gravitational pull until it reaches the
original velocitys magnitude.
Note: The vertical velocity at the highest peak is ZERO because the ball is not
moving up or down at that point.
Unlike the vertical component of velocity, the horizontal component of velocity
remains constant. It does not change because there at no factors or forces acting
on it in the horizontal direction to produce an acceleration.
To simplify the idea of projectile motion, you
should think of the horizontal and vertical
components as separate.
How can we find the components of
velocity?
Horizontal Component Vertical Component
vix = vi cos viy = vi sin
Vi = Initial Velocity
= angle the projectile is launched

Remember: SOH CAH TOA

Imagine the horizontal and vertical
components are on an x and y axis,
respectively. In this case, the
resultant of the two vectors would
be the initial velocity and it would
also act as the hypotenuse of the
triangle that the vector resolution
creates.
 Note: If the angle is not given in the question
(usually it is), you can find using the formula:

= tan-1 (diy/dix)
 The largest vertical displacement is called the
height and occurs at the peak of the trajectory.
The horizontal distance traveled, is called the
range.
 Calculating Maximum Height
Part I: tup & ttotal

When calculating the maximum height of a projectile, the

formula for tup can be used to find the time passed for the
projectile to reach the peak.
tup = Viy/g
Note: g = constant for gravitational acceleration =
9.81m/s2
Since the maximum height is usually half of the full
trajectory (assuming that the projectile lands at the same
height as it was projected), tup is half the amount of the
time of the full motion.
ttotal = 2tup
 Calculating Maximum Height
Part II: formula
The formula used for height is:
dymax = di + viytup 1/2 gtup2

Normally for regents questions, di is equal to zero. Because of this, the

equation is simplified to the following and can be found in your reference
table as well (Without the subscripts, of course. Dont want to make it too
easy for you!):
dymax = viytup 1/2 gtup2

Remember:
viy is the initial vertical component of velocity
g (the universal gravitational constant) = 9.81m/s2
tup was found in the last slide!

Fun Fact: A projectile will reach the highest height when it is launched at an angle of 90!
 Calculating Maximum Range
Part I: Formula #1

The range accounts for the total amount of time

the projectile is in the air. Therefore, use ttotal!!!!
dx = vixttotal
Note: This formula can be found on your reference table in its full form
d = vit + at2. However, we know that there is no acceleration in the
horizontal component (since we are assuming that there are no outside
forces besides gravity involved) so it is not accounted for.
 Calculating Maximum Range
Part I: Formula #2

This formula is not on your reference table.

However, it proves to be convenient in many cases
(if you can memorize it!)
dx = (vi2 sin2) / g
Remember:
dx = range
vi = initial velocity
= angle projectile is launched
g = 9.81m/s2

Fun Fact: A projectile has the greatest range when it is launched at 45!
Formulas associated with Projectile
Motion (found on back of Reference table!)
Horizontal Component Vertical Component
vix = vi cos viy = vi sin
vfx = vix = vx vfy = viy - gt
vfy2 = viy2 - 2gdy
dx = vxt = (vi2 sin2) / g dy = viyt - gt2
ax= 0 m/s2 ay = g = 9.81m/s2
 Next will be some sample problems.
Remember, the key to getting the correct
answer for a physics question is to pluck out the
variable given in the questions, then finding the
formula that have those variables, and then
plugging them in.
 Sample Question #1
A cannonball is fired from ground level at an
angle of 60 with the ground at a speed of
72 m/s. What are the vertical and horizontal
components of the velocity at the time of
launch?
 Sample Question #1
Answer and Explanation

Given Remember the formula for finding the x and

vi = 72 m/s y components of velocity? Also: x component
= 60 is horizontal and y component is vertical
(think of a coordinate graph!)
Missing: vix = vi cos
viy = ?? vix = 72 m/s cos60
vix = ?? vix = 36 m/s
viy = vi sin
viy = 72 m/s sin60
viy = 62.35 m/s
 Sample Question #2
You kick a soccer ball at an angle of 40 above
the ground with a velocity of 20 m/s. What is
the maximum height the soccer ball will reach?
 Sample Question #2
Answer and Explanation

Given For this question, you must find the initial vertical
vi = 20 m/s velocity in order to find the maximum height. Then plug
= 40 it into a second equation noting that vfy = 0 m/s at
maximum point.
Missing: viy = vi sin
viy = ??? viy = 20m/s sin40
dy = ??? viy = 12.86 m/s

vfy2 = viy2 2gdy

(0m/s)2 = (12.86 m/s)2 2(9.81 m/s2)dy
-165.38 m2/s2 = (-19.62m/s2)dy
8.43 m = dy
 Sample Question #3
A cannonball is launched at ground level at
an angle of 30 above the horizontal with an
initial velocity of 26 m/s. How far does the
cannonball travel horizontally before it reaches
the ground?
 Sample Question #3
Answer and Explanation
Given For this question, the vertical velocity must be found to find the total time. The
vi = 26 m/s horizontal velocity will need to be found to find the total range.
= 30
viy = vi sin
Missing: viy = 26 m/s sin30
vix = ??? viy = 13 m/s
viy = ???
ttotal = ??? ttotal = 2tup = 2 (viy/g)
dx = ??? ttotal = 2 (13m/s /9.81m/s2)
ttotal = 2.65s

vix = vi cos
vix = 26 m/s cos30
vix = 22.56 m/s

dx = vxt
dx = (22.56m/s)(2.65s)
dx = 60m
 Sample Question #3
Answer and Explanation #2

Given An easier way to do this problem is to use

vi = 26 m/s the other equation not specified on the
reference table.
= 30
dx = (vi2 sin2) / g
Missing: dx = [(26m/s)2 sin(230)] / 9.81m/s2
dx = ??? dx = 60m

Which equation seems easier?

 Sample Question #4
A quarterback throws a football to a stationary
receiver 31.5m away from him. If the football is
thrown at an initial angle of 40 to the ground,
at what initial speed must the quarterback
throw the ball for it to reach the receiver?
 Sample Question #4
Answer and Explanation

Given You are given the range of the football and the
angle it is thrown. Therefore to find the initial
dx = 31.5m velocity needed for the football to reach the
receiver, the easiest formula to use would be:
= 40 dx = (vi2 sin2) / g
31.5m = [vi2 sin(240)]/ 9.81m/s2
Missing: 309 m2/s2 = vi2 sin80
313.77 m2/s2 = vi2
vi = ??? 17.7 m/s = vi
 Sample Question #5
A golf ball is hit a horizontal distance of exactly
300 m. What is the maximum height the golf
ball reaches in the air if it is launched at an angle
of 25 to the ground?
 Sample Question #5
Answer and Explanation

Given You are given the range of the golf ball and the angle it is thrown and is looking for
the height. This question will need a few more steps than the previous one. It will be
dx = 300 m easier to find height with viy. The initial vertical velocity can be found if the initial
velocity is found first. The easiest formula to use would be:
= 25 dx = (vi2 sin2) / g
300m = [vi2 sin(225)]/ 9.81m/s2
2943 m2/s2 = vi2 sin50
Missing: 3841.81 m2/s2 = vi2
vi = ??? 61.98 m/s = vi
viy = ???
Now that you have vi, you can find viy using the formula:
dy = ??? viy = vi sin
viy = 61.98 m/s sin25
viy = 26.19 m/s

With viy, dy can be determined using the following formula (remember that vfy is 0
m/s at maximum height!!!) :
vfy2 = viy2 2gdy
(0m/s)2 = (26.19 m/s)2 2(9.81 m/s2)dy
-686.17 m2/s2 = (-19.62m/s2)dy
34.97 m = dy
The end