You are on page 1of 2

WILL THESE 2 PROJECTILES COLLIDE?

Questions, like the one above, haunted me for a very long time.
I used to make elaborate equations for trajectories and check if
they intersected. Yeah, boring.
While revising, I learnt this much more sensible method.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------Case 1:
"The 2 projectiles are thrown towards each other from the same height."

Firstly, check if the sum of range of projectiles is more than the


distance between them, else, they will hit the ground before hitting
each other.
Therefore,
Range1 + Range2 Distance Between Projectiles
Secondly, whatever be horizontal component, vertical component
must always be equal, for the simple reason that only if both are at
same height throughout their flight, as they were initially, will they
collide.
Thus vertical relative speed should be zero, as relative acceleration
is zero. (Both have acceleration g due to gravity)
Summing it up,
Velocity Vertical (1) = Velocity Vertical (2)
Velocity Relative (1&2) = 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Case 2:
"The 2 projectiles are thrown away from each other from same height"

Clearly, only the range part will change. Now, the projectile with the
longer range will have to cover a distance more than or equal to the
distance plus the range of the other projectile!
Check for that, and you are good to go!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Case 3:
"The 2 projectile are launched, but not from the same height."
Hmm. This is slightly tricky.
Check if ranges are more than distance first, that is essential.
Then find the difference in height and difference in vertical
component of velicities, that is, the VVertical-Relative.
Use these to find out time at which both will be as same height.
As acceleration

relative

is zero,
=

Now, at time t, if both are at same position it indicates collision.


Which means, in time t, the sum of horizontal distance covered by
projectiles should be equal to their horizontal separation.
That is,
D1 + D2 = Horizontal Separation
or, t.(V1-Horizontal + V2-Horizontal) = Horizontal Separation
I believe this should be enough. Case 3 also deals with finding exact
time and hence any question can be tackled in a similar manner.
Using time, one can determine position and so on.

You might also like