Point mass dynamics of

missile

1
Basic Assumptions for
Point Mass Model
• Equations are written in flat and non-rotating
earth
• All forces act at the CG of the airplane
• Acceleration due to gravity (g) is assumed to be function
of altitude
• Atmosphere is at rest relative to earth
• Atmospheric properties are functions of altitude only
• Forces acting on missile are thrust, aerodynamic forces
and its weight
• Vehicle attitude is ignored, only direction of velocity
vector is considered.

2
Point mass 3-D model
 V sin  
 
 x   V cos  sin 
 y   V cos  cos 
   
 z   ax  g sin  
  
V   ay

   V cos  
  
     az  g cos   
 
  V    T 
CL  C N    CA 
 QS 
T cos   QS C A cos   C N sin  
ax  m a y2  az2
m 
QSCL