2.

3 Projectile
9 describe and explain motion due to a uniform velocity in one direction and a uniform acceleration in a
perpendicular direction

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2009 Nov Paper 22
3 A small ball is thrown horizontally with a speed of 4.0 m s–1.
It falls through a vertical height of 1.96 m before bouncing off a horizontal plate

Air resistance is negligible.

(a) For the ball, as it hits the horizontal plate,
(i) state the magnitude of the horizontal component of its velocity,

horizontal velocity = ....................................... m s–1 [1]

(ii) show that the vertical component of the velocity is 6.2 m s–1.

[1]
(b) The components of the velocity in (a) are both vectors.
Draw a vector diagram, to scale, to determine the velocity of the ball as it hits the horizontal plate.

velocity = .............................................m s–1

at ............................. ° to the vertical [3]
(c) After bouncing on the plate, the ball rises to a vertical height of 0.98 m.
 (i) Calculate the vertical component of the velocity of the ball as it leaves the plate.

vertical velocity = ....................................... m s–1 [2]

(ii) The ball of mass 34 g is in contact with the plate for a time of 0.12 s. Use your answer in (c)(i) and
the data in (a)(ii) to calculate, for the ball as it bounces on the plate,
1. the change in momentum,

change = ................................... kg m s–1 [3]

2. the magnitude of the average force exerted by the plate on the ball due to this momentum
change.

force = ................................... N [2]

2010 Nov 21
2 A ball is thrown horizontally from the top of a building, as shown in Fig. 2.1.
 The ball is thrown with a horizontal speed of 8.2 m s–1. The side of the building is vertical. At point P on the
path of the ball, the ball is distance x from the building and is moving at an angle of 60° to the horizontal.
Air resistance is negligible.
(a) For the ball at point P,
(i) show that the vertical component of its velocity is 14.2 m s–1,

[2]
(ii) determine the vertical distance through which the ball has fallen,

distance = ............................................ m [2]

(iii) determine the horizontal distance x.

x = ............................................ m [2]
(b) The path of the ball in (a), with an initial horizontal speed of 8.2 m s–1, is shown again in Fig. 2.2.

On Fig. 2.2, sketch the new path of the ball for the ball having an initial horizontal speed
(i) greater than 8.2 m s–1 and with negligible air resistance (label this path G), [2]
(ii) equal to 8.2 m s–1 but with air resistance (label this path A). [2]

(a) (i) horizontal speed constant at 8.2 m s–1

vertical component of speed = 8.2 tan 60° = 14.2 m s–1
(ii) 14.22 = 2 × 9.8 × h
vertical distance = 10.3 m
(iii) time of descent = 14.2 / 9.8 = 1.45 s
x = 1.45 × 8.2 = 11.9 m
(b) (i) smooth path curved and above given path
hits ground at more acute angle
(ii) smooth path curved and below given path
hits ground at steeper angle
2010 Nov 22
2 A ball is thrown from a point P, which is at ground level, as illustrated in Fig. 2.1.

The initial velocity of the ball is 12.4 m s–1 at an angle of 36° to the horizontal.
The ball just passes over a wall of height h. The ball reaches the wall 0.17 s after it has been thrown.
(a) Assuming air resistance to be negligible, calculate
(i) the horizontal distance of point P from the wall,

distance = .............................................. m [2]

(ii) the height h of the wall.

h = .............................................. m [3]

(b) A second ball is thrown from point P with the same velocity as the ball in (a). For this ball, air resistance
is not negligible. This ball hits the wall and rebounds. On Fig. 2.1, sketch the path of this ball between
point P and the point where it first hits the ground. [2]

(a) (i) VH = 12.4 cos 36° (= 10.0 m s–1)

distance = 10.0 × 0.17 = 1.7 m
(ii) VV = 12.4 sin 36° (= 7.29 m s–1)
h = 7.29 × 0.17 – ½ × 9.81 × 0.172 = 1.1 m
(b) smooth curve with ball hitting wall below original
smooth curve showing rebound to ground with correct reflection at wall
2011 June 21
1 (c) A stone is thrown with a horizontal velocity of 20 m s–1 from the top of a cliff 15 m high.
The path of the stone is shown in Fig. 1.1.

Air resistance is negligible. For this stone,

(i) calculate the time to fall 15 m,

time = .............................................. s [2]

(ii) calculate the magnitude of the resultant velocity after falling 15 m,

resultant velocity = ........................................ m s–1 [3]

(iii) describe the difference between the displacement of the stone and the distance that it travels.

[2]
(i) s = ut + ½ at2
15 = 0.5 × 9.81 × t2
T = 1.7 s
(ii) vertical component
vv2 = u2 + 2as = 0 + 2 × 9.81 × 15 or vv = u + at = 9.81 × 1.7(5)
vv =17.16
resultant velocity: v2 = (17.16)2 + (20)2
v = 26 m s–1
(iii) distance is the actual path travelled
displacement is the straight line distance between start and finish points / minimum distance
2011 Nov 21
3 A ball is thrown against a vertical wall. The path of the ball is shown in Fig. 3.1.

The ball is thrown from S with an initial velocity of 15.0 m s–1 at 60.0° to the horizontal.
Assume that air resistance is negligible.
(a) For the ball at S, calculate
(i) its horizontal component of velocity,

horizontal component of velocity = ........................................ m s–1 [1]

(ii) its vertical component of velocity.

vertical component of velocity = ........................................ m s–1 [1]

(b) The horizontal distance from S to the wall is 9.95 m. The ball hits the wall at P with a velocity that is at
right angles to the wall. The ball rebounds to a point F that is 6.15 m from the wall.
Using your answers in (a),
(i) calculate the vertical height gained by the ball when it travels from S to P,

height = ............................................. m [1]

(ii) show that the time taken for the ball to travel from S to P is 1.33 s,

[1]
(iii) show that the velocity of the ball immediately after rebounding from the wall is about 4.6 m s–1.

[1]
(c) The mass of the ball is 60 × 10–3 kg.
(i) Calculate the change in momentum of the ball as it rebounds from the wall.

change in momentum = ........................................... N s [2]

(ii) State and explain whether the collision is elastic or inelastic.

[1]
(a) (i) horizontal velocity = 15 cos 60° = 7.5 m s–1
(ii) vertical velocity = 15 sin 60° = 13 m s–1
(b) (i) v2 = u2 + 2as
s = (13)2 / (2 × 9.81) = 8.6(1) m
(ii) t = 13 / 9.81 = 1.326 s or t = 9.95 / 7.5 = 1.327 s
(iii) velocity = 6.15 / 1.33 = 4.6 m s–1
(c) (i) change in momentum = 60 × 10–3 [–4.6 – 7.5] = (–)0.73 N s
(ii) final velocity / kinetic energy is less after the collision hence inelastic