LESSON 4

2.4 PROJECTILE
MOTION

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Objectives:
• To describe and use equations of projectile
motion,
vx=vo cos θ;
vy=vo sin θ
ax=0;
ay=g=-9.81m s-2
• To derive equations for maximum height, H,
horizontal range, R and time of flight, T.

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 2.4 : Projectile Motion

• Projectile motion is a combination of horizontal motion with

constant velocity and vertical motion with constant
acceleration
• Horizontal motion:
- velocity in the x-direction is constant ; vx = constant, ax = 0.
• Vertical motion:
- velocity in the y-direction has a constant acceleration of g
(air resistance is ignored) ; ay = g = -9.81 m s-2.

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 Parabola – the path is symmetrical

Where ; vo = initial velocity

v = velocity at time t
vy = velocity of y-component at time t
vox = initial x-component velocity
voy = initial y-component velocity
sx = horizontal range
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h = maximum height
 Equations of projectile motion
Each vector quantity is resolved into 2 components - x component
- y component

Quantity Horizontal motion Vertical motion

(x-component) (y-component)
Displacement sx = voxt sy = voyt - ½ gt2
Velocity vx = vox (constant vy = voy - gt
velocity)
Acceleration ax = 0 ax = g = 9.81 m s-2
(constant acceleration)

v0
x – component ; v0x = v cos θ
y – component ; v0y = v sin θ
v0y
voy
θ θ = tan −1

vox
v0x
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 Equations of projectile motion

Velocity at any point;

 2 2
Magnitude ; v = v x + v y

vy
Direction ; θ = tan -1

vx 
v
vy
θ

vx
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 Maximum Range and Height

y vy= 0
Maximum Height , H
Vertically:
Initial velocity, v0y= v0 sin θ,
v0
H At maximum height, vy = 0,
Using
)θ vy2 = vo2 + 2as
sy =0 x
Sx= R 0 = (v0sin θ)2 + 2 (-g)H

An object is launched at an initial velocity v02 sin 2 

H 
v0 at an angle θ with the horizontal. 2g

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 Time of flight, T
Vertically:
At the highest point, vy =0,
y vy= 0
Using vy = voy – gt ;
0 = v0 sin θ - gt

v0
H
The time taken to reach
the maximum height, )θ
(vo sin  ) sy =0 x
t Sx= R
g
As the path is symmetrical,
time to go up = time to come down.
2vo sin 
T  2t 
g 8
 Range, R
Horizontally:
ax= 0 ; vox = vo cos θ
sx = v0xt;
 (2vo sin  ) 
R  (vo cos  )  
 g 
v sin 2
2
R 0

g
where sin 2θ = 2 sin θ cos θ y vy= 0
The range is the horizontal
displacement for the projectile.
v0
R is maximum when 2θ = 90 0
H
2
vo sin 90 o
R= )θ
g sy =0 x
2 Sx= R
vo
Rmax = 9
g
 Maximum Range and Height
• What are the conditions that give maximum
height and range in a projectile motion?

 vi 2 sin 2 θi  Maximum
h =



height can be
 2g  achieved when
θi=90o!!!

Maximum range
 vi 2 sin 2θ i  can be achieved
R=   when 2θi= 90o,
 g  i.e., θi=45o!!!

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 Example 1 – Projectile motion
A ball is launched with a velocity 20 m s-1 at an angle 60o with the
horizontal at a point A. Calculate

a) the maximum height ,H

b) the time of flight,
c) the horizontal range, R,
d) its velocity when it strikes the ground,
y
vh = 0

v0 = 20 ms-1 a) H ?
600 b) t ?
Sy =0 x
A c) Sx= R ?
d) v ?
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 Solution of example 1 – Projectile motion;
A ball is launched with a velocity 20 m s-1 at an angle 60o with the
horizontal at a point A.
y
vh = 0

V0 = 20 ms-1 a) H ?

600 b) t ?
Sy =0 x
A
c) Sx= R ?
d) v ?

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 Solution of example 1 – Projectile motion
(a) Maximum height, H

Vertically:
voy= 20 sin 600 ;
vy = 0 (at maximum height)

Using vy2 = voy 2 – 2gs

0 = (20 sin 600)2 - 2(9.81)(H)
H = 15.29 m
(b) Time of flight, T

Vertically:
voy= 20 sin 600 ; sy=0 ( Back on ground)

Using sy = v0yt - 1/2 gyt2

0 = v0 sin θ t - ½ gt2
Time of flight, T = 2v0 sin θ / g
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T = [2(20 sin 600 )]/9.81
 Solution of example 1 – Projectile motion

(c) Range, R

Horizontally :
vox= 20 cos 60o, T = 3.53 s, ax= 0

Using sx= voxt

R = (20 cos 60o)(3.53)
= 35.3 m

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Solution of example 1 – Projectile motion
(d) Velocity when the ball strikes the ground ;
vx= 10 m s-1
Horizontally :
vx = vox = 20 cos 60o = 10 ms-1 θ

vy = - 17.31m s-1 v
Vertically :
v0y = 20 sin 60o ; T = 3.53s

Using vy = voy -- gt
vy= 20 sin 60o - (9.81)(3.53)
= - 17.31ms-1. (downward)
Magnitude:
2 2
v = v x + v y = 10 2 + 17.312 = ±20 m s -1
from the diagram, v = -20 m s-1 (downward)
vy 17.31
Direction : θ = tan −1
= tan −1 = 60 o
vx 10 15
 Example 2 – Projectile motion
At an altitude of 500 m, a bomb is released from an airplane
flying horizontally with uniform velocity, 100 m s-1 to hit a
target which is located 800 m away.
Find the time the bomb reaches the ground.
Is the mission successful?

500 m

800 m

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y

vo = 100 ms-1
x

sy = -500 m

t?

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Solution of example 2 – Projectile motion

Vertically:
voy = 100 sin 0o = 0 ; g = 9.81m s-2 ; sy = -500 m.
sy = voyt - 1/2 gt2
-500 = 0 - 1/2 gt2
t = 10.1 s

Horizontally:
vox = 100 cos00 = 100 m s-1 ; ax = 0 ; t = 10.1 s

sx = voxt - 1/2 axt2

= (100) (10.1) + 0
= 1010 m
Since the target is located 800 m, hence the bomb misses the
target and so the mission is not successful. 18
Example 3 – Projectile motion
A firefighter, a distance d from a burning building, directs a stream of water
from a fire hose at angle θi above the horizontal as in the figure. If the initial
speed of the stream is vi , at what height h does the water strike the building?
Solution :
The horizontal component of displacement,
sx  d  vix t  vi cos i t
∴ the time required to reach the building
a distance d away is ;
d
t
vi cos i
At this time, the altitude of the water ;
v y  h  viy t  12 gt 2
2
 d  g d 
 vi sin i    
 vi cos i  2  vi cos i 
∴ the water strikes the building at a height h above ground level of ;
gd 2
s y  h  d tan i  2 19
2vi cos 2 i
Example 4 – Projectile motion
A ball is thrown from the top of one building toward a tall building 50 m away. The
initial velocity of the ball is 20 m s-1, 40o above horizontal. How far above or below
its original level will the ball strike the opposite wall ?
Solution :
vox  20 cos 400  15.3 m s-1
20 m s-1 voy  20sin 400  12.9 m s-1
)40o
Horizontally ; sx  vx t  vox t
∴time taken to strike the opposite wall :
50
50 m t  3.27 s
15.3
Vertically ;
original level
s y  voy t  12 gt 2
 (12.9)(3.27)  12 (9.81)(3.27) 2
 10.27 m
Therefore, the ball hit at 10.27 m below the original level. 20
 Example 5 – Projectile motion
A projectile is fired horizontally with a speed of 30 m s-1 from the top of a cliff 80 m
high. a) How long will it take to strike the level ground at the base of the cliff ?
b) How far from the foot of the cliff will it strike ?
c) With what velocity will it strike ?
30 m s-1 Solution :
s y  80 m ; o
v  vox  30 m s -1
; voy  0 m s -1

a) Vertically ; s y  voy t  12 gt 2
80 m 80  (0)t  12 (9.81)t 2
t  4.04 s
b) Horizontally ; sx  vox t
c) Final velocity , v ; sx  (30)(4.04)  121.2 m
vx  vox  30 m s -1 ;
v y  voy  gt  0  (9.81)(4.04)  39.6 =40 m s-1
Magnitude, v  vx2  v y2  302  (40)2  50 m s -1
 40 
Direction ,  = tan -1    53
0

 30   -1 0
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Hence, v = 50 m s ; 53 below +ve x-axis
Example 6 – Projectile motion
A boy playing football kicks the ball at an angle of 37o with respect to the
horizontal, at an initial speed of 15 m s-1. Assuming that the ball moves in a
vertical plane. Calculate ;
• the time t1 after which the ball will reach the highest point of its trajectory and
the height of this point above the ground
• the time t2 taken by the ball to fall on the ground and its speed at that moment
• the longest possible range of the ball

Answer :

• t1 = 0.9 s ; ymax = 4.1 m

• t2 = 1.8 s ; v = 15 m s-1

• xmax = 22.9 m

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 Conclusion
• Equations of projectile motion,
vx= vo cos θ ;
vy= vo sin θ
ax= 0;
ay= g = -9.81m s-2
• Equations for maximum height, H,
horizontal range, R and time of flight, T (for a parabolic curve)
v02 sin 2  y
H
2g
v02 sin 2
R H
g
x
2v sin θ R
T= o 23
g