CHAPTER 3

PROJECTILE MOTION

Projectile motion: a body in free fall moving in

two dimensions that is subject to the forces of
gravity and air resistance and its path is a
parabola
Bodies projected into the air are projectiles.
Examples of moving body as projectile:
Shot putt
High jumper
Long jumper
Soccer ball Baseball
Ski jumper
What are the components of the movement?

It can be understood
by analyzing the:
horizontal

vertical
motions separately.

This diagram
drawn using
correct scale.

is
a

Which velocity is
changing as time
goes by?

The speed in the x-direction

is constant; in the ydirection the object moves
with constant acceleration
g.
y

This photograph shows two balls

that start to fall at the same time.
The one on the right has an initial
speed in the x-direction. It can be
seen that vertical positions of the
two balls are identical at identical
times, while the horizontal
position of the yellow ball
increases linearly.

If an object is launched at an initial angle of 0

with the horizontal, the analysis is similar except
that the initial velocity has a vertical component.
This diagram is
drawn using a
correct scale.
Which velocity is
changing as time
goes by?

Objectives when launching projectiles:

Influence time of flight
Maximum
Minimum
Maximize horizontal displacement
Maximize vertical displacement

Factors Influencing Projectile Trajectory

Trajectory: the flight path of a projectile

Angle of projection
Projection speed
Relative height of projection

Angle of Projection
General shapes
Perfectly vertical (angle = ?)
Parabolic (angle = ?)
Perfectly horizontal (angle = ?)
Implications in sports
Air resistance may cause
irregularities

Projection speed:

Range:
horizontal displacement.
For oblique projection angles,
speed determines height and
range

For vertical projection angle,

speed determines height.

Relative Projection Height

Difference between
and landing height

projection

Greater the relative projection

height, longer the flight time,
greater the displacement.

Optimum Projection Conditions

Maximize the speed of projection
Maximize release height
Optimum angle of projection
Release height = 0, then angle = 450
Release height, then angle
Release height, then angle

Complimentary angles (A + B = 90) have the

same range
Large angle higher and slower time: tennis lob,
punt
Small angle lower and faster time: baseball throw

Analyzing Projectile Motion

Initial velocity:
Horizontal component is constant
Horizontal acceleration = 0

Vertical component is constantly changing

Vertical acceleration = -9.81 m/s2

A projectile launched with velocity will have both vertical &

horizontal components of that velocity.

Horizontal & Vertical Components:

Vertical is influenced by gravity
No force (neglecting air resistance) affects the horizontal
Horizontal relates to distance

Vertical relates to maximum height achieved

Horizontal and vertical components are independent

The Influence of Gravity

Major influence of vertical
component
Not the horizontal component
Force of Gravity:
Constant, unchanging
Negative acceleration (-9.81
m/s2)
Apex:
Highest Point
Vertical velocity = 0 m/s

A
body
projected
straight upward will
have the same speed
at the end of its flight
as it did when it was
launched

Influence of Air Resistance

In a vacuum, horizontal speed of a projectile

remains constant

Air resistance affects the horizontal speed of a

projectile
This class, horizontal velocity will be regarded as
constant

Equations of
Constant Acceleration

Galileos Laws of constant acceleration:

v2 = v1 + at
S = v1t + at2
V22 = v21 + 2 aS
S = displacement; v = velocity; a = acceleration; t = time

Subscript 1 & 2 represent first or initial and second or final

point in time

Equations of
Constant Acceleration

Horizontal component : a = 0
v2 = v 1
S = v1 t
V22 = v21

Equations of
Constant Acceleration
Vertical component: a = -9.81 m/s2, initial velocity of zero
(a dropped object)
v2 = at
S = at2
V22 = 2aS
Vertical component at apex: a = 0
0 = v21 + 2aS (det. max height)
0 = v1 + at
(total flight time multiply by 2)

Solving Problems Involving Projectile Motion

Projectile motion is motion with constant
acceleration in two dimensions, where the
acceleration is g and is down.

Solving Problems Involving Projectile Motion:

Procedures
1. Read the problem carefully, and choose the
object(s) you are going to analyze.

2. Draw a diagram.
3. Choose an origin and a coordinate system.

4. Decide on the time interval;

this is the same in both directions, and
includes only the time the object is moving
with constant acceleration g.
5. Examine the x and y motions separately.

Solving Problems Involving Projectile Motion:

Procedures
6. List known and unknown quantities.
Remember that vx never changes, and that vy =
0 at the highest point.
7. Plan how you will proceed. Use the
appropriate equations; you may have to
combine some of them.

Driving Off A Cliff

A movie stunt driver on a motorcycle speeds

horizontally off a 50.0-m-high cliff. How fast
must the motorcycle leave the cliff top to land
on level ground below, 90.0 m from the base of
the cliff where the cameras are? Ignore air
resistance.

A Kicked Football

A football is kicked at an angle 0 = 37.0 with a

velocity of 20.0 m/s, as shown. Calculate (a) the
maximum height, (b) the time of travel before the
football hits the ground, (c) how far away it hits the
ground, (d) the velocity vector at the maximum height,
and (e) the acceleration vector at maximum height.
Assume the ball leaves the foot at ground level, and
ignore air resistance and rotation of the ball.

Conceptual Problem:
Where does the apple land?
A child sits upright in a wagon
which is moving to the right at
constant speed as shown. The
child extends her hand and throws
an apple straight upward (from her
own point of view), while the
wagon continues to travel forward
at constant speed. If air resistance
is neglected, will the apple land (a)
behind the wagon, (b) in the
wagon, or (c) in front of the
wagon?

Conceptual Problem: The wrong strategy.

A boy on a small hill aims his water-balloon slingshot
horizontally, straight at a second boy hanging from a
tree branch a distance d away. At the instant the water
balloon is released, the second boy lets go and falls
from the tree, hoping to avoid being hit. Show that he
made the wrong move. (He hadnt studied physics
yet.) Ignore air resistance.