REVIEWER

• In a gravity- and air resistance-free situation a

• Projectile motion may be described using
projectile will move in a straight line due to
descriptions of horizontal and vertical motion.
the consequence of inertia.
• A projectile is an object that is given an initial
velocity and is then acted solely upon by
gravitational force.
• A trajectory is a path followed by a projectile.
• The path of an object under projectile motion
follows a parabola.
• Because of gravity on earth and horizontal
velocity, an object travels in a parabolic arc.
• As the object moves up, the magnitude of the
vertical velocity (𝑣y) gradually decreases, thus
it shows that the object is slowing down and
has a vertical velocity of 0 m/s at its maximum
height.
• As the object moves down, the vertical
velocity (𝑣y) gradually increases, thus it shows
that the object is speeding up which is
influenced by a force due to gravity.
• The gravitational acceleration of projectiles on
earth is constant and is equal to −9.8 𝑚⁄s2
(means −9.8 𝑚/s2 downward).
• In terms of horizontal component of a
projectile, the horizontal velocity is constant.
Thus, the initial and final horizontal velocities
are equal (𝑣ox = 𝑣x) which leads to a constant
horizontal acceleration of 0 𝑚/s2.
• An object projected horizontally will fall down
at the same rate as another one that is
dropped, thus both objects will hit the ground
at the same time.
• In horizontally launched projectile, the
magnitude of the y-component of the velocity
(𝑣y) gradually increases as it falls due to the
acceleration due to gravity. On the other
hand, the x-component of its velocity is
constant since there is no net force acting on
it and it is moving in accordance with the Law
of Inertia.
• In angle-launched projectiles, the x-
component of the velocity does not change
since no net force is acting on the x-direction,
it moves continuously due to inertia. The
magnitude of the y-component of its velocity
gradually decreases as it approaches the
maximum height. As it reaches the maximum
height its velocity along the y-axis becomes 0
m/s. As the projectile goes down, it gradually
gains velocity along the -y-axis.
• Projectile motion is the combination of • Between 1⁰ and 89⁰, projectile motion is
horizontal motion with constant velocity evident given that an initial velocity on the
(acceleration = 0) and vertical motion with object.
constant acceleration (due to gravity). • When the angle is 45⁰, the resulting horizontal
• The height and range of a projectile are displacement is maximum with high vertical
dependent upon 1) initial velocity and 2) angle displacement (but not maximum).
of launch • When the angle is 89⁰, the resulting vertical
• The trajectory of a projectile is parabolic. displacement is maximum with low horizontal
• At the maximum height, the vertical displacement (but not minimum).
component of the velocity is equal to zero. (𝑣y
= 0)
• Before the maximum height, the object is
ascending or its height is increasing. After the
maximum height, the object is descending or
its height is decreasing.
• Given the initial velocity is not changed:
☆ The maximum height reached by a
projectile increases as the angle of launch
increases until an angle of 90 degrees with
respect to the horizontal.
☆ The maximum height reached by a
projectile decreases as the angle of launch
decreases from 90 degrees.
☆ The range increases as the angle of
launch decreases from 45 degrees with
respect to the horizontal.
☆ Maximum range is attained at an
angle of 45 degrees with respect to the
horizontal.
☆ The range decreases as the angle of
launch increases from 45 degrees to 90
degrees with respect to the horizontal.
• In most cases, increase in initial velocity
implies increase in height and range if angle of
launch is constant.
• When the angle is zero (⁰), it means that the
projectile is simply launched along a
horizontal displacement ONLY with no vertical
displacement. The value of height of a
projectile is equal to zero and its range is
dependent on the value of the initial velocity
and acceleration along the x-axis. (considered
as Uniformly Accelerated Motion along x-axis)
• When the angle is 90⁰, the resulting horizontal
displacement is zero, and the vertical
displacement along the y-axis only. The value
of range of a projectile is equal to zero and its
height is dependent on the value of the initial
velocity and acceleration along the y-axis
(gravity). (considered as Free-Fall)