Projectile Motion

Motion In Two Dimensions

We restrict ourselves to objects thrown near the Earth’s surface so that gravity
can be considered constant.
 Objectives

1. For a projectile, describe the changes in the

horizontal and vertical components of its velocity,
when air resistance is negligible.

2. Explain why a projectile moves equal distances

horizontally in equal time intervals when air
resistance is negligible.

3. Describe satellites as fast moving projectiles.

Projectile motion applies to sports.
Projectile motion applies to destructive
projectiles.
A projectile is any object that moves through
the air or through space, acted on only by
gravity (and air resistance).

The motion of a projectile is determined only

by the object’s initial velocity, launch angle and
gravity.
Projectile motion is a combination of horizontal
motion and vertical motion.

The horizontal motion of a projectile is constant

because no gravitational force acts horizontally
The vertical motion of a projected object is
independent of its horizontal motion.
Let's say a Wiley coyote runs off a cliff. As he
leaves the cliff he has a horizontal velocity.

As soon as the coyote leaves the cliff he will

experience a vertical force due to gravity.
This force will cause him to start to accelerate
in the vertical direction.
As he falls he will be going faster and faster in
the vertical direction
 The horizontal and
vertical components of
the motion of an object
going off a cliff are
Y separate from each other,
and can not affect each
other.

In a lot of books you will see the horizontal component

called x and the vertical component called y.
The x-component of a projectile’s
motion is there from the start, and
stays the same the entire time.

The y-component
of a projectile’s
motion doesn’t
even exist at the
beginning, but
grows bigger as
the object falls.
The vertical motion of a projectile is nothing more than
free fall with a constant downward acceleration due
to gravity.
A projectile, once projected, continues in
motion by its own inertia and is influenced
only by the downward force of gravity.

Gravity accelerates objects downwards, but is

unable to affect the horizontal motion of a
projectile.
A projectile moves horizontally with constant
velocity while being accelerated vertically. The
result is a motion in a curved path.
The path of a projectile is called its trajectory.

The trajectory of a projectile in free fall is a parabola.

The total
distance
traveled by a
projectile is
known as its
range.
 Horizontal Shot.
If the barrel of a rifle is horizontal to the surface of
the earth when fired, the bullet never rises above
the barrel, and gravity causes an immediate
descent.
 Projectile Vectors
Horizontal and vertical components are represented as
vectors.
An object projected
horizontally will
reach the ground in
the same time as
an object dropped
vertically.

No matter how
large the horizontal
velocity is, the
downward pull of
gravity is always
the same.
The cannonball falls the same amount of distance as it did
when it was merely dropped from rest
 Projectile Motion Summary

Horizontal Vertical
Motion Motion
Forces No Yes
Present
Gravity acting downward
Acceleration No Yes
Present Gravity downward at
approx. 10 m/s2
Velocity Constant Changing
(by approx. 10 m/s each
second)
 Horizontally launched projectile
Horizontal velocity is constant. Vertical velocity is changing
due to gravitational acceleration..
 Vertically launched projectile
The horizontal velocity component remains the same size
throughout the entire motion of the cannonball.
If projectiles are launched at the same speed, but at different
angles, the height and range is of the projectile are affected.
The same range can be reached by two different angles.
90 minus the first angle will give you the second of the same range.
Ex: 90-30=60. 90-75=15.
 Sports Trivia

Maximum range is achieved if the projectile is

fired at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to
the horizontal.
0°, 90°minimum range

45°maximum range
Angle with Longest time in
Air? 90°
Which angle of projection causes a projectile
to stay in the air longer? 50 or 70 degrees

70 degrees,
(closest to 90,
longer time in air)
If it takes 4 seconds for a projectile to rise to its peak, then
it takes 8 seconds to move through the air from start to
finish. Why?
Because the vertical
velocity changes by approx.
10 m/s (in the upward or
downward direction) each
second.

For example
If a projectile is moving
upwards with a velocity
of 40 m/s at 0 seconds,
then its velocity will be:
30 m/s after 1 second
20 m/s after 2 seconds,
10 m/s after 3 seconds,
40 m/s after 8 seconds.
 Free Fall Results
• Horizontal motion is constant
• Vertical Motion is accelerated
• Rise time = Fall Time
• Final speed = Initial speed
When the effect of air resistance is significant,
the range of a projectile is diminished and the
path is not a true parabola.
In Conclusion
A projectile is any object upon which the only force
is gravity.

Projectiles travel with a parabolic trajectory due to

the influence of gravity.

There are no horizontal forces acting upon projectiles

and thus no horizontal acceleration.

The horizontal velocity of a projectile is constant.

there is a vertical acceleration caused by gravity
(approx. 10 m/s).

The horizontal motion of a projectile is independent

of its vertical motion.
Test your knowledge

Suppose a truck is equipped with a

flare launcher which is capable of launching
a sphere vertically. If the truck is in
motion and launches the flare and maintains a
constant horizontal velocity after the launch,
then where will the flare land (neglect air
resistance)?
 Test your knowledge

Suppose an airplane drops a flare while it

is moving at constant horizontal speed at
an elevated height. Assuming that air
resistance is negligible, where will the flare
land relative to the plane?
A. Directly below the plane.
B. Below the plane and ahead of it.
C. Below plane and behind it.
Why does the horizontal component of a
projectile’s motion remain constant?

Because no force acts on it horizontally.

Why does the vertical component of a
projectile’s motion undergo change?

Because gravity is pulling it downward.

How does the vertical distance a projectile
falls below an otherwise straight-line path
compare with the vertical distance it would
fall from rest in the same time?

The vertical and horizontal distances are

equal.
A projectile is launched vertically at 100
m/s. If air resistance can be neglected, at
what speed does it return to its initial
level?

100 m/s
A rock is thrown upward at an angle.
What happens to the horizontal
component of its velocity as it rises?
(Neglect air resistance.)

(a) it decreases
(b) it increases
(c) it remains the same
A horizontally traveling car drives off of a
cliff next to the ocean. At the same time
that the car leaves the cliff a bystander
drops his camera. Which hits the ocean
first? (Neglect air resistance.)

(a) car
(b) camera
(c) they both hit at the same time
When a rifle is being aimed at a distant
target, the barrel should be lined up so that
it points:

 A. Slightly higher than the target

B. Exactly at the target
C. Slightly lower than the target