SCIENCE 9 - MODULES 1-2, WEEK 1-2 – PROJECTILE MOTION

Grade 9 - Tison, Mora, Carsido and Grade 8 – SSC - Oralde

Competencies for this Module:

1. Describe the horizontal and vertical motions of a projectile.
2. Investigate the relationship between the angle of release and the height and range of the
projectile.

INTRODUCTION
Projectile motion refers to the motion of an object that is launched into the air and is
influenced only by the force of gravity and its initial velocity. It is a type of motion in which the
object moves along a curved path under the influence of gravity. The object’s motion can be
broken down into two independent components: horizontal motion and vertical motion.

UNLOCKING OF TERMS

1. Projectile Motion:
o Definition: Projectile motion refers to the motion of an object that is thrown,
launched, or otherwise propelled into the air, influenced only by gravity and its initial
velocity. This type of motion follows a curved path called a trajectory.
o Key Points: In projectile motion, the object moves both horizontally and vertically
at the same time. The object experiences constant acceleration in the vertical
direction due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s²) and no acceleration in the
horizontal direction (ignoring air resistance).
2. Projectile:
o Definition: A projectile is any object that is launched or thrown into the air, and
whose motion is affected by gravity and air resistance (if present). Examples of
projectiles include a rock thrown upward, a football kicked, or a cannonball fired
from a cannon.
o Key Points: A projectile has an initial velocity and follows a curved path due to the
force of gravity pulling it downward, and it continues moving until it hits the ground
or is intercepted.
3. Trajectory:
o The curved path that a projectile follows through space, which is influenced by the
initial velocity and gravity.
4. Velocity:
o The speed of an object in a given direction. It has both magnitude (speed) and
direction.
5. Horizontal Motion:
o The motion of the projectile in the horizontal direction. In projectile motion, this is
not affected by gravity (ignoring air resistance).
6. Vertical Motion:
o The motion of the projectile in the vertical direction. This motion is influenced by
gravity, which causes the object to accelerate downwards.
7. Acceleration due to Gravity (g):
o The constant acceleration that acts on a projectile in the vertical direction, pulling it
downward. The standard value is approximately 9.8 m/s² near Earth's surface.
8. Initial Velocity (V):
o The velocity at which a projectile is launched or thrown. It can be broken down into
horizontal and vertical components.
9. Maximum Height:
o The highest point in the projectile’s trajectory. At this point, the vertical velocity is
zero before the object starts to fall back down.
 10. Time of Flight:
• The total time a projectile remains in the air from launch to when it hits the ground.
11. Range:
• The horizontal distance the projectile travels from its starting point to the point where it
lands.
12. Angle of Projection (θ):
• The angle at which the projectile is launched relative to the horizontal surface. This angle
affects the shape and distance of the trajectory.
13. Air Resistance:
• The force that opposes the motion of the projectile through the air. In ideal projectile motion
(without air resistance), the only force acting on the projectile is gravity.

KEY CONCEPTS OF PROJECTILE MOTION

1. What is Projectile Motion?

Projectile motion happens when an object is launched into the air, and gravity pulls it downward.
It moves in a curved path called a parabola. The object’s movement can be split into two parts:
• Horizontal motion (side to side)
• Vertical motion (up and down)
Both motions happen at the same time, but they don’t affect each other. The horizontal motion is
at a constant speed, and the vertical motion is affected by gravity, which makes the object move
slower when going up and faster when coming down.

2. Components of Motion in Projectile Motion

Horizontal Motion
• The object moves sideways at a constant speed because gravity does not affect horizontal
motion.
• Equation for horizontal distance (or range): Range (x)= Vxt

• Where:
o Vx = horizontal velocity
o t = time the object is in the air (flight time)

Vertical Motion

• The vertical velocity changes due to gravity.

• The object slows down as it moves upward (because gravity pulls it down), and speeds up
as it falls.
3. Parabolic Path

• The combination of horizontal and vertical motion creates a curved path called a
parabola.
• If you throw an object, it will follow a parabolic shape: it rises, slows down, reaches a peak,
and then falls back down.

4. Launch angle affects the projectile’s maximum height and range.

5. Vertical velocity (how high the projectile goes) depends on the sine of the angle, while the
horizontal velocity (how far it travels) depends on the cosine of the angle.

6. Optimal angle for maximum range: The best angle to achieve the longest range is 45°. This is
because at angles lower than 45°, the projectile travels less high but goes farther horizontally, and
at angles higher than 45°, it goes higher but covers less horizontal distance.

7. Effect on Maximum Height:

• At higher angles, the vertical velocity is larger, and the projectile goes higher. For example,
a projectile launched at 90° will go straight up and come straight down.
• As the launch angle increases, the maximum height of the projectile increases.

8. Effect on Range:

• The range of a projectile (how far it travels horizontally) increases with the launch angle,
but only up to 45°. After that, the range starts to decrease because the horizontal velocity is
reduced.
• At 45°, the projectile achieves the maximum range.

FORMULAS:

1. Components of Initial Velocity:

o The initial velocity of the projectile can be broken into horizontal and vertical
components:
▪ Horizontal Component (Vx): Vx=V0cos(θ)
▪ Vertical Component (Vy): Vy=V0sin(θ)
where V0 is the initial velocity, and θ (theta) is the angle of projection.
2. Time of Flight:
o The total time a projectile is in the air is determined by the vertical motion. It can be
calculated using: t=2Vy/g where Vy is the vertical component of the initial velocity
and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
3. Maximum Height (H):
o The highest point a projectile reaches can be calculated using: H=Vy2/2g
4. Range (R):
o The horizontal distance the projectile travels is given by: R=Vx×t where Vx is the
horizontal component of the initial velocity and t is the time of flight.
Example Problems:
1. Problem 1:
o A ball is thrown with an initial velocity of 20 m/s at an angle of 30°. Find:
▪ a) The horizontal and vertical components of velocity.
▪ b) The maximum height.
▪ c) The range.
▪ d) The time of flight.
 Solution:
o Use the formulas for components of velocity, range, and time of flight based on the
given angle and initial velocity.

Important Notes:
• In projectile motion, the horizontal motion and vertical motion are independent of each
other, which means you can analyze them separately.
• At the highest point of the trajectory, the vertical velocity becomes zero, but the
horizontal velocity remains constant (if air resistance is ignored).
• Gravity affects only the vertical motion of the projectile.

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY

TEST 1: Solve the problem below. Show your solution (60 POINTS)

1. A cannonball is fired with an initial velocity of 50 m/s at an angle of 45°. How far will
it travel before hitting the ground?
Hint :
o Use the range formula and break the initial velocity into components to find the
horizontal range.

2. A ball is kicked with an initial velocity of 15 m/s at an angle of 30°. Find the
maximum height and range of the projectile.
Hint :
o Use the Max Height and Range formula and break the initial velocity into
components to find the horizontal range.

3. A soccer ball is kicked at an angle of 30° with a speed of 15 m/s. How far does it
travel before it hits the ground?
Hint :
o Split the initial velocity into horizontal and vertical components first, then solve for
the time of flight and finally solve for the range.

Prepared by:

WERNEL D. REGALA, PhD

Master Teacher
Masulog High School