Projectile Motion Notes Name:____________________

To be a true projectile, an object must:

1. Have negligible lift and drag from the air.

 A Frisbee would not be a projectile because of its lift.
 A wad of paper thrown through the air at a fast speed is not a true projectile due to the amount of air
friction or “drag”.
2. Have no means of self propulsion.
 A model rocket would not be a true projectile because it is self propelled.
3. Have a short trajectory compared to the size of the earth.
 If the altitude reached by an object is great enough, 9.80 m/s2 would not be constant.
 If the distance an object travels is great enough, the rotation of the earth would have to be taken into
account.

If an object is a true projectile:

1. The center of mass follows a parabolic trajectory.

2. The rest of the object rotates about its center of mass.
3. Gravity is the only force acting on it.

Projectile Variables and Formulas

The diagram below shows the parabolic path of a projectile. Since a projectile travels in a two dimensional plane, the
variables for projectile motion are a little different than for kinematics. We pretend the trajectory is happening on a big
X-Y coordinate system.

Position of projectile at some time “t”

Δ𝑦

Initial Position Δ𝑥 X
of projectile

Δ𝑥 = the displacement of the projectile in the horizontal direction ( usually equates to “distance”)

Δ𝑦 = the vertical displacement ( same as the “height” for a type 2 trajectory and “distance fallen” for a type 1.
 At the instant a type 2 projectile is launched, it has a velocity vector that we break up into X and Y components
as shown in the diagram below.

Viy


Vx
Usually, a type two projectile problem gives you the speed and angle of the launch. We find the X and Y
components of that velocity vector. Vx is the horizontal component of the velocity and Viy is the initial vertical velocity
component. “V” is the original launch speed and “” is the launch angle.

The list of variables for projectile motion looks like this:

Δ𝑥 = horizontal displacement (distance) in (m)

Δ𝑦 = vertical displacement (height) in (m)
Vx = horizontal velocity (m/s)
Viy = initial vertical velocity (m/s)
Vfy = final vertical velocity (m/s)
t = time (s)

Formulas There are three basic formulas for projectile motion. Since there are no forces acting parallel to
the ground, a projectile travels at a constant speed horizontally. d = Vt is the only formula
needed in the x direction. We put an X subscript on the V, so in the X direction we have:

𝚫𝒙 = Vxt

In the Y direction, projectiles act just like an object thrown straight up in the air and allowed to
fall straight down. So, we use two kinematics formulas with y subscripts to describe the motion
in the Y direction. We can describe the displacement in the y direction using Δy= Vit + .5at2.
We give things Y subscripts and plug in -9.80 for acceleration to get

𝚫𝒚 = Viyt – 4.90t2

We can describe the changing vertical velocity component using Vf = Vi + at

Vfy = Viy – 9.80t

These are the three basic projectile formulas. There is one more that will be presented later.
Type 1 Projectiles

There are two types of projectile problems. Both use the same variables and formulas, but the given is
different enough that we generally follow different strategies. I call them “type 1” and “type 2” projectiles.
These terms don’t exist in physics textbooks. That’s right, dude; I made ‘em up.

A type 1 projectile problem says things like “launched horizontally” or “launched parallel to the
ground”. A type 1 projectile basically starts its motion at the top of the parabola and follows half the normal
trajectory. Since a type 1 projectile is launched parallel to the ground, the V iy = 0. If the problem gives you a
speed, it must be Vx. Or, if the initial speed is asked for, they are asking for V x, not Viy. Also, since a type 1
projectile starts at the top, all of the Δ𝑦’s are negative because the object is always falling downward.

Example: A rock is thrown parallel to the ground at a speed of 10.0 m/s from a height of 6.00 m. How
far will the rock fly before hitting the ground?

No matter what a projectile problem asks for, the best thing to do is calculate the time of flight first. Time
appears in all of the formulas, so once you know the time of flight, usually the problem is whipped.

Given: Viy = 0 Vx = 10.0 m/s 𝚫𝒚 = -6.00 m Find: 𝚫𝒙

We can use the formula 𝚫𝒚 = Viyt – 4.90t2 to find the time.

-6.00 m = 0 – 4.90t2

6.00
√ =t
4.90

1.11 s = t

To find the displacement, Δ𝑥, we can use the total time of flight in the formula Δ𝑥 = Vxt.

Δ𝑥 = (10.0 m/s)(1.11 s)

Δ𝑥 = 11.1 m

To summarize type 1 projectile problems:

1. Set Viy = 0
2. Vx = initial speed
3. Find time using this shortcut (usually) t = √𝒅𝒚/𝟒. 𝟗𝟎
4. Problem includes wording such as “launched horizontally” or “launched parallel to the ground”.
5. The time of flight for a type 1 depends on the launch height NOT the launch speed. All type 1
projectiles launched from the same height will stay in the air the same amount of time.
Type 2 Projectile Problems

A type 2 projectile is one that generally starts its motion at ground level. The object is launched with
an initial speed at some angle and completes the entire parabolic trajectory. Usually, a type 2 projectile
problem gives you the initial launch speed and angle. It can then ask a range of questions (no pun intended).

Example: A football is thrown with an initial speed of 25.0 m/s at an angle of 32.0 o from the ground.
a) How far will the ball fly before hitting the ground?
b) What will be the maximum height reached by the ball?

Given: V = 25.0 m/s  = 32.0o Find: a) 𝚫𝒙 b) 𝚫𝒚 maximum

Solution

For most type 2 projectile problems, the first step is to use V and  to calculate Vx and Viy. These can
be calculated just like any other X and Y components of a vector.

Vx = Vcos Viy = Vsin

Vx = (25.0m/s)cos32.0o Viy = (25.0 m/s)sin32.0o

Vx = 21.2 m/s Viy = 13.2 m/s

The second thing you usually do is find the total time of flight. Since there is no air resistance, it is safe
to assume that Vfy = -Viy. For this problem, Vfy at the end of the trajectory should equal -13.2 m/s. This allows
us to use Vfy = Viy – 9.80t to find the time of flight.

-13.2 m/s = 13.2 m/s – 9.80t

-26.4 m/s = -9.80t

2.69 s = t

This is such a common procedure for a type 2 projectile that a shortcut formula was made to find the
time of flight that looks like this:

t = 2Viy/9.80 (for type 2’s only!)

Now, to solve for Δ𝑥, we can use 𝚫𝒙 = Vxt.

Δ𝑥 = (21.2 m/s)(2.69 s) = 57.0 m (answer for question a)

To solve for Δ𝑦 maximum we use half the total time and the formula 𝚫𝒚 = Viyt – 4.90t2.

Δ𝑦 = (13.2 m/s)(1.35 s) – 4.90(1.35 s)2

Δ𝑦 = 17.8 m – 8.93

Δ𝑦 = 8.9 m (the two number subtract to the nearest tenth)

The Range Formula

There is one more formula for projectiles. I call it the “range formula” though no one else does. It’s
only good for solving one question, but for that question it’s a nice short cut. For a type 2 projectile, you can
figure out the distance it will fly before hitting the ground (Δ𝑥) right from the original speed and angle of
launch. What we used before was the formula

Δ𝑥 = Vxt

Since Vx = Vcos and t = 2Viy/9.80 and Viy = Vsin and 2cossin = sin2

You get POOF! 𝚫𝒙 = V2sin2

       9.80

Example: A golf ball is hit at an angle of 35.0o and a speed of 30.0 m/s. How far will it fly before hitting
the ground?

Δ𝑥 = (30.0 m/s)2sin[2(35.0o)]/9.80

Δ𝑥 = 86.3 m

Fun Facts about Projectiles due to Range Formula

1) Complimentary angles will yield the same distance. This means that 20o and 70o, or 30o and 60o,
or 40o and 50o and will result in the same distance. This is because of the 2 inside the sine
function. In the case of 20o and 70o, it means that sin[2(20 o)] = sin[2(70 o)].
2) A 45o angle will yield the greatest distance from any projectile launcher as long as there is no air
resistance. This because of the inside the sine function. 2 x 45 = 90 and sin90 o = 1.
Summary of Type 2 Projectiles

1. You know it’s a type 2 when they give you a speed and angle.
2. Find Vx and Viy first.
3. Use t = 2Viy/9.80 to find total time of flight.
𝟏
4. Use 𝚫𝒚 = 𝑽𝒊𝒚 𝒕 + 𝟐 𝒂𝒕𝟐 (a is – g in this case) and half the total time to find the maximum height. (to
answer the howhighgo problem)
5. It takes half the total time to go all the way up and half the time to come down.
6. Time of flight depends on Viy which depends on the launch speed and angle.
7. Complimentary angles yield same distance.
8. A 45o angle yields maximum distance.

One last thing

Sometimes, you can use 𝚫𝒙 = 𝒗𝒙 𝒕 to find the time of flight for either type 1 or type 2.

Put this stuff on your formula sheet

Type 1 Type 2

Viy = 0 t = 2Viy/9.80

t = √𝟐𝒉/𝟗. 𝟖𝟎 use half t for Δ𝑦 maximum

Vx = initial speed 𝚫𝒙 = 𝒗𝒙 𝒕 (for both)