LT-24 Res.

IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture Note

PROJECTILE MOTION

An object that is in fight after being thrown or projected is called a projectile. The motion of a projectile
may be thought as the result of two separate, simultaneously occurring perpendicular components of
motions. One component is along horizontal direction without any acceleration and other is along
vertical direction with constant acceleration due to gravity. It was Galileo who fist stated this
independency of the horizontal and the vertical components of projectile motion.

A particle is projected with a velocity u (velocity of projection) making using a angle  with the horizontal.
 is known as angle of projection. Only force that control the projectile is gravity. We will neglect air
resistance. Projectile is subjected to acceleration due to gravity a   gjˆ (a  0, a  g).

x y

u cos  is the horizontal component of velocity which remains constant. u sin  is initial vertical
component of velocity. O is the point of projection which is taken as origin.
The velocity of the projectile after t second

1
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture
Note

Vy  uy  a y t

Vy  u sin   gt

V  Vx2  Vy2  (u cos )2  (u sin   gt)2

V  u2  2u sin gt  g2 t 2

opposite side Vy u sin   gt

Velocity v make an angle  with horizontal such that, tan    
adj.side Vx u cos 

In vector form a   gjˆ



u  u cos  ˆi  u sin  ˆj


  
v u a t

v  u cos  ˆi  u sin  ˆj  gtjˆ



v  u cos  ˆi  (u sin   gt)ˆj



 usin   gt
v  (ucos )2  (usin   gt)2 , tan  
ucos 

To find the displacement of the projectile after t seconds

along x axis
disp = velocity × time

x  (ucos ) t

This is the equation for x-coordinate of the projectile at any time t.

ay t2
along y axis y  uy t 
2

1
y  u sin  t  gt2 Equation for y coordinate or height of projectile at any time t.
2
2
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture Note

displacement = r  x 2  y 2

To find it in vector form we can use the equation r  x i  yjˆ where u  u sin ˆj, a  gjˆ
   

Equation for path of a projectile

x
x  u cos  t, t 
u cos 

1
y  u sin t  gt 2
2
2
x 1  x 
y  u sin   g 
u cos  2  u cos  

1 x2
y  x tan   g 2
2 u cos2 

This is the equation of a parabola. Thus the path of a projectile is parabola.

At the highest point of the projectile vertical component of velocity is zero. Horizontal component is
u cos  because it remains constant. At the highest point speed of the projectile is minimum and
purely horizontal and is equal to u cos  . Angle between acceleration and instantaneous velocity
decreases from (90  ) to (90  )

3
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture
Note
Time of Flight of the projectile (T)

Consider the motion of the projectile along y-axis

1 2
S y  uy t  ay t
2
t=T

1 2
0  u sin T  gT
2

2 u sin  2uy
T or T
g g

u sin 
Time of ascend = Time of descend =
g

Maximum height of a projectile H

Consider the motion along y-axis

Vy2  u2y  2a y gy

0  (usin )2  2(gH)

2gH  (u sin )2

u 2 sin 2  u2y
H or H 
2g 2g

4
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture
Note

Horizontal range (R) of the projectile

Horizontal range = Horizontal velocity × time of flight
2u sin 
R  ucos T, T 
g

u2 sin 2 2u x u y
R or R 
g g

Relation connecting R, H, T and angle of projection 

H u 2 sin2 

R 2gu 2 sin  cos 
2

gT 2
4H  R tan  , H
8

gT 2 gT 2
4  R tan  ; R
8 2 tan 

Angle of projection for maximum range for a given speed of projection

u2 sin 2
R
g
, sin 2max  1

u2
Rmax  sin900  1
g
2   900
  450

To get maximum height we should throw vertically up   900

u2
Hmax  (1  dimensional motion)
2g

 u2  R
Hmax     max
 g 2

Galileo in his book two new sciences stated that for elevations which exceed or fall short of 450by
equal amount, the ranges are equal.
i.e., there are two different angles of projection for same range. If one angle is  other angle is 90  
for same sped of projection.

5
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture
Note

Let 1 and 2 to be two different angles of projection for same range.

u2 sin 2
R ,sinceR1  R 2
g

sin 21  sin 22 sin(180  A)  sin A

sin 21  sin(180  22 )

21  180  22 ; 1  90  2

1  2  900
e.g. for same speed at angles of projection 300 and 600 range is same. Also at 150 and 750 range is
same.

 In the above situation when R1 = R2

2u sin  2u sin(90  )
T1  ; T2 
g g

T1 sin 
  tan  [sin(90  )  cos )
T2 cos 

u2 sin2  u2 sin2 (90  ) H1 sin 2 

H1  ; H2  ;   tan 2 
2g 2g H 2 cos 
2

6
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture Note

Two different angles of projection for same range are equally inclined to the angle of projection for
maximum range i.e. 450.

The different angles of projection for same range are equally inclined to the vertical and horizontal
Equation for path of a projectile

1 x2
y  x tan   g 2
2 u cos2 

 
 x 
y  x tan  1  
 (2u sin  cos 
2

 g 
 

 x
y  x tan  1  
 R

7
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture
Note
Relation between angle of projection '  ' and angle of elevation , at maximum height

Velocity time graph

If the path of a projectile is given by the equation y  ax  bx 2 find R, H, T

8
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture Note

y = ax – bx2, if y = 0, x = R
0 = ax – bx2
ax = bx2
x = R = a/b

Compare y  x tan  [1  x / R]

tan   a

4H  R tan 

a a2
4H  a, H
b 4b

T2g a2
H 
8 4b
Horizontal projection

A particle is projected horizontally with a velocity u from a height H. It follows a parabolic path and
stroke the ground, horizontal component of velocity u remains constant vertical component is subjected
to acceleration due to gravity.

ux  u, uy  0 u  uiˆ


ax  0,ay   g a   giˆ


To find time of flight we consider the motion along y-axis

1
S y  uy t  ay t 2
2

1
H  oxt  ( g) t 2
2

9
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture Note

1
H  gt 2
2

2
t H
g

This is same as the time take by a dropped body to reach the ground dropped from rest.
To find range R, consider the horizontal motion,

S x  ux t

2H
R = ut R u
g

Velocity with which it hits the ground

Vx  u

Vy2  u2y  2a y y

Vy 2  0  2( g)( H)

Vx
Vy  2gH V  Vx2  Vy2 ; tan  
Vy

 is the angle made by the velocity with vertical.

10
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture
Note

Three projectiles one is dropped, other two are thrown with some velocities are shown below. Position
are drawn at different intervals.

t is same for all R1 = u1t R2 = u2t

R1 u1

R 2 u2

All of them reach the ground at the same time. Their vertical motion are identical because they have
same initial vertical velocity (zero in this case) and same acceleration.
Path of a projectile with respect to another projectile is a straight line. Their relative acceleration is
zero.
Projectile Projected from the top of a building (Projected upwards)

Horizontal motion Vertical motion

u x  u cos  uy  u sin 

ax = 0 ay = –g
Time of flight (T)
at t = T, sy = –h

1
s y  uy t  a y t 2
2

1
h   u sin T  ( g)T 2
2
Solving this equation ‘T’ will be obtained

11
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture
Note
Range (R)
at t = T, sx = R
1
s x  ux t  a x t 2
2

R  ucos   T  0

R  u cos  T

Projectile Projected from the top of a building (Projected downwards)

Horizontal motion Vertical motion

ux  u cos  uy  u sin 

ax = 0 ay = –g
Time of flight (T)
at t = T, sy = –h

1
s y  uy t  a y t 2
2

1
h   u sin T  ( g)T 2
2
Solving this equation ‘T’ will be obtained
Range R  u cos   T
Projection From Inclined Plane

12
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture
Note

ux  u cos(  )

uy  u sin(  )

a x   g sin 

a y   gcos 

For motion from ‘O’ to ‘A’ the displacement along the y-direction is zero.
ay t 2
 y  uy t 
2

gcos  T 2
O  u sin(   )T 
2

2u sin(   ) 2Uy
T or T
gcos  | ay |

Maximum Height from inclined surface (H)

Vy2  U2y  2a y y

O  U2y   2a yH

U2y
H
2a y

U2 sin2 (   )
H
2 gcos 

Horizontal displacement OB  (u cos ) T

2u sin(   )
OB  u cos  
gcos 

Range Along the inclined surface

13
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture Note
OB
R  OA 
cos 

2u2 cos  sin(   )

R
gcos2 

u2 2 cos  sin(   )
R
gcos2 

u2 [sin(2   )  sin 
R 2cos A sinB  sin(A  B)  sin(A  B)
gcos2 

Range R is maximum, when sin(2   )  1


2 
2

      2
    
4 2 4 2 4

u2 [1  sin ] u2 (1  sin  ) u2 [1  sin ]

Rmax   R
; max 
gcos2  g(1  sin2  ) g[1  sin ] [1  sin ]

u2
Rmax 
g[1  sin ]

Projectile Motion from an Inclined Plane

ux  u cos(   )

uy  u sin(    )

a x  g sin  , a y  gcos 
14
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture
Note

When the object hits on the inclined plane

ay t2
y  0, y  uy t 
2

gcos  2 2u sin(   ) 2Uy

O  u sin(    )T  T T 
2 gcos  ay

2u sin(   )
BA  (Ux cos )T  u cos  
gcos 

Range along the inclined surface

AB 2u2 cos  sin (   ) 2u2 cos  sin(   )

R  OA   R
cos  gcos2  gcos2 

u2
R [sin(2   )  sin(  )]
gcos2 

u2 [sin(2   )  sin  ]
R
gcos2 


For maximum range sin(2   )  1 , 2   
2

  2
  
4   2 u2 [1  sin ]
  2  Rmax 
  4 gcos2 
4

u2 (1  sin  ) u2 (1  sin  )
Rmax  
g(1  sin2  ) g[1  sin ][1  sin ]

u2
Rmax 
g [1  sin ]

Maximum height (H) from the inclined surface.

At maximum height Vy = 0

 Vy2  u2y  2a y y becomes 0  u2y  2 a yH

U2y u2 sin2 (   )
H 
2a y 2 gcos 

15
 LT-24 Res. IIT-AIIMS (Phy) Lecture
Note
Note : For a given speed, the direction which gives the maximum range of the projectile on an inclined
plane, bisects the angle between the incline and the vertical, for upward or downward projection.
Standard results for projectile motion on an incline plane

Up the incline Down the incline

2u cos  sin(   )
2
2u2 cos  sin(   )
Range
gcos2  gcos2 

2u sin (   ) 2u sin (   ) 2uy

Time of flight 
gcos  g cos  ay

u2 u2
Maximum Range
g [1  sin ] g [1  sin ]

Angle of projection
for maximum range   2   2
(from inclined 4 4
surface)

16