Lesson 19.

Horizontal Projectiles
Objective
describe the horizontal
At the end
of the
1 and vertical motions of a
projectile.
lesson, you
should be
able to:
 Learn about It!

Projectile Motion
• Projectile motion is a two-dimensional motion influenced
solely by gravity that has a non-zero horizontal velocity
component.
• A baseball thrown by the pitcher, a golf ball hit by the
club, or a basketball thrown towards the basket all have
one thing in common.
• These objects simultaneously move in the vertical and
horizontal directions. All of the examples mentioned exhibit
projectile motion.
 Learn about It!

Projectile Motion

Objects that follow a curved path such as the following – a golf ball when hit
by the club, a baseball thrown by the pitcher, and basketball thrown in the
air – all exhibit projectile motion.
 Learn about It!

Projectile Motion
• A projectile is any object shot, projected or launched in the
air. It may refer to a ball, a rock or even a particle.
• The motion of a projectile takes place in a vertical plane.
When given an initial velocity, it follows a path mainly
affected by gravity.
• Without gravity, any object thrown horizontally in the air
will follow a straight path.
 Learn about It!

Projectile Motion
• Because of gravitational force, projectile follows a curve
path. This curve or parabolic path followed by a projectile is
called trajectory.
• On the other hand, the range is the horizontal distance
covered by a projectile.
 Learn about It!

Horizontal and Vertical Components of Projectile

• The horizontal and vertical motions of a projectile are
independent of each other.
• It means that the motion of the projectile along the x-
direction does not affect its motion along the y-direction.
 The horizontal component of a projectile
follows a constant velocity motion and the
vertical component follows a constant
downward acceleration.
 Learn about It!

Horizontal and Vertical Components of Projectile

• Notice the vertical positions of the
balls at each second. The height of
the objects is the same at each time
interval. The distances per successive
image increases, indicating that both
objects have increasing velocity and
thus, both are accelerating.
A projectile covers the same
distance per time interval as an
object in free fall.
 Learn about It!

Horizontal and Vertical Components of Projectile

• The red ball on the left is in free fall
motion and therefore, only gravity
affects its motion.
• The same thing occurs in the white
one. After it was given an initial
velocity, the only force affecting it is
the gravitational force. The fact that
the white ball is moving horizontally A projectile covers the same
while it is falling has no effect on its distance per time interval as an
vertical motion. object in free fall.
Keep in mind that just like free fall, the effect of
air resistance is also neglected in projectile
motion. The statements would not be the same
if air resistance is to be considered.
 Learn about It!

Calculating Projectile Motion

• The vertical component of a
projectile is similar to a free
falling object. As it falls, the
distance it covers increases per
time interval. This means that
its velocity increases at a
uniform rate.
The vertical motion of a projectile is a
uniformly accelerated motion while its
 Learn about It!

Calculating Projectile Motion

• The object experiences a
constant acceleration of –9.8
m/s2 along the vertical
direction.
• It is evident that it increases at
a uniform rate. Again, the
negative sign only indicates The vertical motion of a projectile is a
that the direction of the uniformly accelerated motion while
its horizontal component is a
object’s velocity is downward.
constant motion
 Learn about It!

Calculating Projectile Motion

• The horizontal component of a
projectile, however, is as
simple as a ball rolling in a flat
surface at a constant velocity.
This is sometimes referred to
as the x-component since it
The vertical motion of a projectile is a
moves along the x-axis or the uniformly accelerated motion while its
x-direction. horizontal component is a constant
motion
 Learn about It!

Calculating Projectile Motion

• The time it takes for the projectile to cover the vertical
distance is the same as the time it requires to cover the
horizontal distance.
• Therefore, solving for time in one component is enough
because it will also give you the time for the other
component.
 Learn about It!

Calculating Projectile Motion

• Since velocity along the horizontal component is zero, the
initial velocity of the projectile is equal to its final velocity or
to any velocity at any time interval. Therefore,

Since the velocity is constant along the x-component, the

object is not accelerating. Hence,
 Learn about It!

Calculating Projectile Motion

• Similar to any object moving in a straight line, the distance
covered or range of the projectile is equivalent to

where x is the range, vx is the velocity along the horizontal

direction and t is the time. The equation was basically
derived from the general equation of velocity or speed.
 An object thrown horizontally has a vertical
motion similar to an object dropped from rest.
Thus, it can be concluded that its initial velocity
along the y-direction is zero.
 Learn about It!

Calculating Projectile Motion

• To solve for other components, the four equations from the
previous unit will be used. Only this time, instead of
exclusively using vi and vf, a subscript y is added to
emphasize that these velocities are along the vertical or y-
direction.
 Learn about It!

Calculating Projectile Motion

• Resultant velocity is the vector sum of the horizontal and
vertical components of the projectile’s velocity. It can be
solved using the Pythagorean Theorem as:
 Learn about It!

Calculating Projectile Motion

The final velocity of the projectiles is composed of

the vertical and horizontal components.
 Try it!
A stone is thrown horizontally at a speed of 6.0
m/s from the top of a cliff that is 70.0 m high.
How long does it take the stone to reach the
bottom of the cliff?
 Try it! Solution

How long does it take the stone to reach the

bottom of the cliff?
Step 1: Identify what is required to find in the problem.
You are asked to calculate for the time it takes the stone
to reach the bottom of the cliff.

Step 2: Identify the given in the problem.

The initial velocity, height, and acceleration due to gravity
are all given.
 Try it! Solution

How long does it take the stone to reach the

bottom of the cliff?
Step 3: Write the working equation.

Step 4: Substitute the given values.

 Try it! Solution

How long does it take the stone to reach the

bottom of the cliff?

Step 5: Find the answer

Key Points

Projectile motion is a two-dimensional motion influenced

solely by gravity that has a non-zero horizontal velocity
1 component. A projectile is any object shot, projected or
launched in the air. It may refer to a ball, a rock or even a
particle.

The curve or parabolic path followed by a projectile is

2 called trajectory.
Key Points

The vertical component of a projectile is similar to a free

falling object. The horizontal component of a projectile,
3 however, is as simple as a ball rolling in a flat surface at a
constant velocity.

4 Range is the horizontal distance covered by a projectile.

Resultant velocity is the vector sum of the horizontal and

5 vertical components of the projectile’s velocity.
 Check Your Understanding

Identify whether the statement is true or false.

1. Projectile motion is a two-dimensional motion influenced
solely by gravity that has a non-zero horizontal velocity
component.
2. Range is the vertical distance covered by a projectile.
3. A projectile is any object shot, projected or launched in the
air. It may refer to a ball, a rock or even a particle.
4. The vertical component of a projectile is similar to a free
falling object.
5. The curve or parabolic path followed by a projectile is called
path.
 Challenge Yourself

Why does the horizontal component of the

projectile’s velocity independent of time?
 Bibliography

Faughn, Jerry S., and Raymond A. Serway. 2006. Serway’s College Physics, 7th Edition. Singapore:
Brooks/Cole

Gardose-Figueras, Geraldine. 2009. Science Fundamentals for High School IV: Physics. Philippines:
Trinitas Publishing Inc.

Hewitt, Paul G. 2002. Conceptual Physics, 9th Edition. Singapore: Pearson Education

Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. 2009. University Physics, 12th Edition. Singapore:
Pearson Education

Zitzewitz, Paul W., David G. Haase, and Kathleen A. Harper. 2013. Physics: Principles and Problems.
United States: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill