Projectile Motion

!  An object may move in both the x and y

directions simultaneously
!  The form of two-dimensional motion we will
deal with is called projectile motion
Assumptions of Projectile
Motion
!  The free-fall acceleration is constant over the
range of motion
!  It is directed downward
!  It is reasonable as long as the range is small
compared to the radius of the Earth
!  The effect of air friction is negligible
!  With these assumptions, an object in
projectile motion will follow a parabolic path
!  This path is called the trajectory
Projectile Motion Diagram
Analyzing Projectile Motion
!  Consider the motion as the superposition of the
motions in the x- and y-directions
!  The actual position at any time is given by:

!  The initial velocity can be expressed in terms of its

components
!  vxi = vi cos θ and vyi = vi sin θ
!  The x-direction has constant velocity
!  ax = 0
!  The y-direction is free fall
!  ay = -g
 Effects of Changing Initial
Conditions
!  The velocity vector
components depend on
the value of the initial
velocity
!  Change the angle and
note the effect
!  Change the magnitude
and note the effect
Analysis Model
!  The analysis model is the superposition of
two motions
!  Motion of a particle under constant velocity in the
horizontal direction
!  Motion of a particle under constant acceleration in
the vertical direction
!  Specifically, free fall
Projectile Motion Vectors
! 

!  The final position is the

vector sum of the initial
position, the position
resulting from the initial
velocity and the
position resulting from
the acceleration
Projectile Motion –
Implications
!  The y-component of the velocity is zero at the
maximum height of the trajectory
!  The acceleration stays the same throughout
the trajectory
 Range and Maximum Height of
a Projectile
!  When analyzing projectile
motion, two
characteristics are of
special interest
!  The range, R, is the
horizontal distance of the
projectile
!  The maximum height the
projectile reaches is h
Height of a Projectile, equation
!  The maximum height of the projectile can be
found in terms of the initial velocity vector:

!  This equation is valid only for symmetric

motion
Range of a Projectile, equation
!  The range of a projectile can be expressed in
terms of the initial velocity vector:

!  This is valid only for symmetric trajectory

More About the Range of a
Projectile
Range of a Projectile, final
!  The maximum range occurs at θi = 45o
!  Complementary angles will produce the same
range
!  The maximum height will be different for the two
angles
!  The times of the flight will be different for the two
angles
Projectile Motion – Problem
Solving Hints
!  Conceptualize
!  Establish the mental representation of the projectile moving
along its trajectory
!  Categorize
!  Confirm air resistance is neglected
!  Select a coordinate system with x in the horizontal and y in
the vertical direction
!  Analyze
!  If the initial velocity is given, resolve it into x and y
components
!  Treat the horizontal and vertical motions independently
Projectile Motion – Problem
Solving Hints, cont.
!  Analysis, cont
!  Analyze the horizontal motion using constant velocity
techniques
!  Analyze the vertical motion using constant acceleration
techniques
!  Remember that both directions share the same time
!  Finalize
!  Check to see if your answers are consistent with the
mental and pictorial representations
!  Check to see if your results are realistic
Non-Symmetric Projectile
Motion
!  Follow the general rules
for projectile motion
!  Break the y-direction into
parts
!  up and down or
!  symmetrical back to
initial height and then
the rest of the height
!  Apply the problem solving
process to determine and
solve the necessary
equations
!  May be non-symmetric in
other ways
Uniform Circular Motion
!  Uniform circular motion occurs when an object
moves in a circular path with a constant speed
!  The associated analysis motion is a particle in
uniform circular motion
!  An acceleration exists since the direction of the
motion is changing
!  This change in velocity is related to an acceleration
!  The velocity vector is always tangent to the path of
the object
Changing Velocity in Uniform
Circular Motion

!  The change in the

velocity vector is due to
the change in direction

!  The vector diagram

shows
Centripetal Acceleration
!  The acceleration is always perpendicular to
the path of the motion
!  The acceleration always points toward the
center of the circle of motion
!  This acceleration is called the centripetal
acceleration
Centripetal Acceleration, cont
!  The magnitude of the centripetal acceleration vector
is given by

!  The direction of the centripetal acceleration vector is

always changing, to stay directed toward the center
of the circle of motion
 Fc- centripetal vs centrifugal
Ques%on Centripetal Centrifugal
Is it “real”? Yes. Directly caused by some No it’s “fic88ous”, only in the
interac8on (e.g. pull of sense that there is no “real”
gravity or tension in a string) interac8on. It’s just another
way of expressing iner8a, or
Newton’s 3rd law*
What direc8on is it in for Towards the centre Away from the centre
circular mo8on?

What’s its magnitude for Mv2/r Mv2/r

circular mo8on?

What symbol is usually used? Fc Fc

So why are there TWO There aren’t really 2 forces.

forces? It’s the same thing seen from
2 different perspec8ves.

*Newton’s 3rd law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Period
!  The period, T, is the time required for one
complete revolution
!  The speed of the particle would be the
circumference of the circle of motion divided
by the period
!  Therefore, the period is defined as
Tangential Acceleration
!  The magnitude of the velocity could also be changing
!  In this case, there would be a tangential acceleration
!  The motion would be under the influence of both
tangential and centripetal accelerations
!  Note the changing acceleration vectors
Total Acceleration
!  The tangential acceleration causes the
change in the speed of the particle
!  The radial acceleration comes from a change
in the direction of the velocity vector
 Total Acceleration, equations
dv
!  Tangential acceleration: at =
dt
2
v
!  Centripetal acceleration: ac =
r
€
!  Total acceleration:

!  Magnitude a = ac2 + at2

€
!  Direction
!  Same as velocity vector if v is increasing, opposite if v is
decreasing
€