Kinematics

Applications

Free Projectile Motion:

This is an application of the kinetics of a particle using the Cartesian coordinates. The
resistance of the air is neglected and the weight (m g ) of a particle is the only force acting
on the projectile after it has been fired in an arbitrary direction except the vertical one . The
altitudes gained by the motion are assumed to be very small such the variation of the
acceleration with the altitude can be neglected.

y 𝝊

𝝊𝟎 P 𝜓

mg
y
𝜶 x
O
x
Equations of Motion:

Newton’s Law at a general position gives : 0 = 𝑚 𝑎𝑥 , −𝑚𝑔 = 𝑚 𝑎𝑦

Kinematics: Horizontal motion:
𝑑𝑥̇
∴ 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑥̈ = = 0 (1)
𝑑𝑡
By integrating twice with respect to time t:

𝜐𝑥 = 𝑥̇ = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡. = 𝑥̇ 0 = 𝜐0 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼 (2)

𝑥 = 𝑥̇ 0 𝑡 = (𝜐0 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼)𝑡 (3)

Vertical motion:
𝑑𝑦̇
∴ 𝑎𝑦 = 𝑦̈ = = −𝑔 (4)
𝑑𝑡
By integrating twice with respect to time t:
𝑦̇ 𝑡
∫𝑣 sin 𝛼 𝑑 𝑦̇ = ∫0 − 𝑔 𝑑𝑡 ∴ 𝜐𝑦 = 𝑦̇ = 𝜐0 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛼 − 𝑔𝑡 (5)
𝑜

𝑦 𝑡 1
∴ ∫0 𝑑 𝑦 = ∫0 (𝜐0 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛼 − 𝑔𝑡) 𝑑𝑡 ∴ 𝑦 = (𝜐0 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛼)𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2 (6)
2

Equations (3) and (6), show that the motion of the projectile in the horizontal direction is
uniform (constant velocity 𝜐0 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼) , while its motion in the vertical direction is uniformly

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accelerated ( y = − g ) . Thus the motion of a projectile may be replaced by two independent
rectilinear motions.
Cartesian Equation of the Path:
The equations (3) and (6) define the coordinated x and y of a projectile at any instant t
(parametric equations of the path). Eliminating t from equations (3) and (6),
𝑥 𝑥 1 𝑥
𝑡= , 𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜 sin 𝛼 ( )− 𝑔( )2
𝑣𝑜 cos 𝛼 𝑣𝑜 cos 𝛼 2 𝑣𝑜 cos 𝛼
we get the equation of the path, which is a parabola.

𝑔𝑥 2 [1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝛼]
𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝛼 −
2𝜈𝑜2

Rang of a projectile on the horizontal plane passing through O:

y 𝝊𝟎 y 𝝊𝟎

𝝊𝟎
𝜶 𝜶 x
A x 𝜶′
O R O A
R

The distance OA is called the rang of a projectile on the horizontal plane passing through O. The coordinates
of point A (R,0) is substituted in the above trajectory equation:
𝑅 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛼 𝑔𝑅 2
0= − , which yields :
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼 2𝜈𝑜2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛼

2𝜐02 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛼 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼 𝜐02 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 𝛼

𝑅= =
𝑔 𝑔

𝜋
It is clear that the projectile can be fired with two possible angles  or 𝛼 ′ = − 𝛼.The
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projectile in both cases will assume the same range.

Time of flight of the horizontal range ( R ):

The time of flight is the time required to travel from O to A: Substitute in the equation :
𝑥𝐴 = 𝜐0 cos 𝛼 𝑡𝐴 , where 𝑥𝐴 = 𝑅 to get the time 𝑡𝐴 :
𝑅 2𝜐0 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛼
𝑡𝐴 = =
𝜐0 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼 𝑔 𝜐02 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 𝛼
Rewriting the equation of range in the form : 𝑅=
𝑔

The maximum range on the horizontal plane is obtained if sin 2 = 1 i.e. =45 and
hence:
2
 𝜐02
𝑅𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
𝑔
y 𝜐
𝑦̇
𝝊𝟎 B 𝜐𝐵 = 𝑥̇
Maximum height:
At the peak point B of maximum height the 𝑥̇
velocity component in y-direction is zero i.e. 𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝜐0 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛼
𝒚̇ 𝑩 = 𝟎 , 𝑡𝐵 = and we get : y
𝑔 𝛼
A
O x x
2 2
(𝜐0 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛼) R/2
𝑦𝑀𝑎𝑥 =
2𝑔 R

The possible firing angles required to hit a given target using the same firing velocity 𝝊𝟎 :

Assume a target 𝑃 ≡ ( 𝑎, 𝑏) which must satisfy the trajectory equation :

𝑔𝑥 2 [1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝛼] 𝑔𝑎2 [1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝛼]
𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝛼 − ∴ 𝑏 = 𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝛼 −
2𝜈𝑜2 2𝜈𝑜2
The last equation gives two roots for ( tan 𝛼 ) giving two possible values
𝛼1 , 𝛼2 for the firing angle 𝛼. 𝜐0
P
𝜐0
b
TheVelocity of a projectile at point P: 𝛼2 𝛼1
a
If the point P ( x P , y P ) is known: y
First method: 𝜐𝑃
B 𝜐𝐵 = 𝑥̇
𝜐0
Determining the time required to reach P,
𝜃 𝑃′
t P = x P /(  0 cos  ) 𝑃 𝜃
𝑦𝑃 𝑦𝑃 ′
Then substituting into equation (2) and (4), we 𝛼
A 𝜐𝑃′
obtain : O 𝑥𝑃 𝜶 x
∴ 𝒙̇ 𝑷 = 𝒙̇ 𝟎 = 𝝊𝟎 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜶 R/2
𝒚̇ 𝑷 = 𝒚̇ 𝟎 − 𝒈𝒕𝑷 = 𝝊𝟎 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜶 − 𝒈𝒕𝑷 𝑥𝑃′
𝜐𝐴
From the last two equations we obtain:

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 𝑦̇ 𝑃
𝝊𝑷 = √𝑥̇ 𝑃2 + 𝑦̇𝑃2 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 = ,
𝑥̇ 𝑃

Second method:
Using the principle of work and energy, between point O and P, we obtain :
1 1
𝑚𝜐𝑃2 − 𝑚𝜐02 = 𝑊0→𝑃 = −𝑚𝑔𝑦𝑃 ,
2 2

∴ 𝜐𝑃 = √𝜐0 2 − 2𝑔𝑦𝑝

Since y P = y P' , then from the last equation the speed at P is equal to the speed at P’.
To determine the direction of the velocity:
𝒙̇ 𝑷 = 𝒙̇ 𝟎

∴ 𝜐𝑃 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 = 𝜐0 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼

𝜐0 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑃 =
𝜐𝑃
Note that we obtain two solutions :
p =  or p = 2  - 
One for point P and the other for point P’.

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 𝟏
∵ 𝑩( 𝑹 , −𝟏) , 𝒚 = 𝒗𝒐 𝐬𝐢 𝐧 𝜶 𝒕 − 𝒈 𝒕 𝟐
𝟐
𝟏
∴ −𝟏 = 𝒗𝑨 𝐬𝐢 𝐧 𝟑𝟎𝒐 (𝟏. 𝟓) − (𝟗. 𝟖𝟏)(𝟏. 𝟓)𝟐 ∴ 𝒗𝑨 = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟑𝟖 𝒎/𝒔 = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟒 𝒎/𝒔
𝟐
𝒙 = 𝒗𝑨 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜶 𝒕 ∴ 𝑹 = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟑𝟖 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟑𝟎𝒐 (𝟏. 𝟓) = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟒 𝒎
𝒗𝒐 𝟐 (𝐬𝐢 𝐧 𝜶)𝟐 (𝟏𝟑. 𝟑𝟖)𝟐 (𝐬𝐢 𝐧 𝟑𝟎𝒐 )𝟐
, 𝒚𝒎𝒂𝒙 = = = 𝟑. 𝟐𝟖 𝒎
𝟐𝒈 𝟐(𝟗. 𝟖𝟏)

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 𝒚

𝒈 𝒙𝟐 (𝟏 + 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝜶 )
∵ 𝑩(𝟏𝟎 , 𝟏) , 𝒚 = 𝒙 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜶 −
𝟐 𝒗𝟐𝒐
𝒐
𝟗. 𝟖𝟏 (𝟏𝟎)𝟐 (𝟏 + 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝟑𝟎𝒐 )
∴ 𝟏 = 𝟏𝟎 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟑𝟎 − ∴ 𝒗𝑨 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟕 𝒎/𝒔
𝟐 𝒗𝟐𝑨
𝒗𝑩 = √𝒗𝟐𝑨 − 𝟐 𝒈 𝒚𝑩 = ඥ(𝟏𝟏. 𝟕)𝟐 − 𝟐(𝟗. 𝟖𝟏)(𝟏) = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟖𝟑 𝒎/𝒔

𝒗𝑨 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜶 𝟏𝟏. 𝟕 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟑𝟎𝒐

𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽𝑩 = = ∴ 𝜽𝑩 = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟕𝒐
𝒗𝑩 𝟏𝟎. 𝟖𝟑
𝒙𝑩 𝟏𝟎
𝒕= = = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟖𝟕 𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝒗𝑨 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜶 𝟏𝟏. 𝟕 (𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟑𝟎𝒐 )

6
 𝒚

𝟑
𝑩 [𝟏𝟎𝟎(𝟎. 𝟖) , − (𝟒 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎 ∗ )] = 𝑩( 𝟖𝟎 , −𝟔𝟒)
𝟓
𝒈 𝒙𝟐 (𝟏 + 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝜶 )
, 𝒚 = 𝒙 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜶 −
𝟐 𝒗𝟐𝒐
𝒐
𝟗. 𝟖𝟏 (𝟖𝟎)𝟐 (𝟏 + 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝟐𝟓𝒐 )
∴ −𝟔𝟒 = 𝟖𝟎 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟐𝟓 − ∴ 𝒗𝑨 = 𝟏𝟗. 𝟒 𝒎/𝒔
𝟐 𝒗𝟐𝑨
𝒙𝑩 𝟖𝟎
𝒕= = = 𝟒. 𝟓𝟒 𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝒗𝑨 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜶 𝟏𝟗. 𝟒 (𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐𝟓𝟎 )

NOTE:

𝒗𝑩 = √𝒗𝟐𝑨 − 𝟐 𝒈 𝒚𝑩 = ඥ(𝟏𝟗. 𝟒)𝟐 − 𝟐(𝟗. 𝟖𝟏)(−𝟔𝟒) = 𝟒𝟎. 𝟒 𝒎/𝒔

𝒗𝑨 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜶 𝟏𝟗. 𝟒 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐𝟓𝒐

𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽𝑩 = = ∴ 𝜽𝑩 = 𝟔𝟒. 𝟐𝒐
𝒗𝑩 𝟒𝟎. 𝟒

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𝒚

8
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑩 𝒕𝒐 𝑪 𝒕𝒐 𝑫 ∶

𝒗𝑩 𝟐 (𝐬𝐢 𝐧 𝜶)𝟐 (𝟏𝟔𝟎)𝟐 (𝐬𝐢 𝐧 𝟒𝟓𝒐 )𝟐

𝒚𝒎𝒂𝒙 = = = 𝟔𝟓𝟐. 𝟒 𝒎
𝟐𝒈 𝟐(𝟗. 𝟖𝟏)

𝒉𝑪 = 𝒉𝑩 + 𝒚𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟔𝟓𝟐. 𝟒 + 𝟒𝟐𝟕 = 𝟏𝟎𝟕𝟗. 𝟒 𝒎

𝒈 𝒙𝑫 𝟐 (𝟏 + 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝜶 )
𝒚𝑫 = 𝒙𝑫 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜶 −
𝟐 𝒗𝟐𝑩

𝑫 ≡ ( 𝑹 , −𝟒𝟐𝟕)

𝒈 𝒙𝑫 𝟐 (𝟏 + 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝜶 )
𝒚𝑫 = 𝒙𝑫 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜶 −
𝟐 𝒗𝟐𝑩

𝒐
𝟗. 𝟖𝟏 𝑹𝟐 (𝟏 + 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝟒𝟓𝒐 )
−𝟒𝟐𝟕 = 𝑹 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟒𝟓 −
𝟐 (𝟏𝟔𝟎)𝟐

∴ 𝑹 = 𝟐𝟗𝟖𝟑 𝒎

NOTE:

Time from B to D:

𝒙𝑫 𝟐𝟗𝟖𝟑
𝒕= = = 𝟐𝟔. 𝟑𝟔 𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝒗𝑩 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜶 𝟏𝟔𝟎 (𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟒𝟓𝟎 )

Velocity at D :

𝒗𝑫 = √𝒗𝟐𝑩 − 𝟐 𝒈 𝒚𝑫 = ඥ(𝟏𝟔𝟎)𝟐 − 𝟐(𝟗. 𝟖𝟏)(−𝟒𝟐𝟕) = 𝟏𝟖𝟒. 𝟑 𝒎/𝒔

𝒗𝑩 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜶 𝟏𝟔𝟎 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟒𝟓𝒐
𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽𝑫 = = ∴ 𝜽𝑫 = 𝟓𝟐. 𝟏𝒐
𝒗𝑫 𝟏𝟖𝟒. 𝟑