Most Essential Learning Competency
Calculate range, time of flight, and maximum heights of projectiles.
Objectives
Illustrate projectile motion and the mathematical equation involved in solving problems
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PROJECTILE MOTION
Spiked volleyball, thrown basketball, thrown stone into the air: all of these are examples of
projectiles. Projectile is any object which projected by some means and continues to move due to its
own inertia (mass). While its motion is what we call a projectile motion. And its path is the trajectory.
Thinking of the projectile motion, it may look complicated, however these motion is simple as ever.
Considering first its path’s components, which are the horizontal and vertical components.
In solving the vertical and horizontal component, air resistance is not included. Then horizontal
component of projectile is same with the horizontal motion of a rolling ball, means that friction is
negligible. When friction is negligible and no horizontal force, the horizontal velocity of the rolling ball is
constant. With constant velocity, no acceleration occur. This is also the same with the projectiles’
horizontal component.
The vertical component of a projectile, is the same with the vertical motion of a falling object (free fall).
The force that acting on the object is the force of gravity. As the object falls its velocity changes with
time. As the velocity increases the distance covered also increases with each corresponding equal time.
This is also the same with the vertical component of the projectile.
The horizontal and vertical component of projectile is independent form each other. So they are being
solve separately. But their combined effect results to curved paths that the projectile follows. So the
force that is only acting on a projectile is the force of gravity. Let’s take an example, if I drop a ball, and
another ball is projected horizontally. Which one will reach the ground first? Remember that both object
has horizontal component is constant, since no horizontal force acting on it. Gravity is the only force that
is acting on the object so the acceleration will be due to gravity. And since the horizontal component has
nothing to do with the vertical component, so the downward motion of the horizontally projected ball is
the same as the free fall. See the picture below.
Horizontal: Motion of a ball rolling freely along a level surface
Horizontal velocity is ALWAYS constant
Vertical: Motion of a freely falling object
Force due to gravity
Vertical component of velocity changes with time
Parabolic: Path traced by an object accelerating only in the vertical direction while moving at constant
horizontal velocity
Equations:
Horizontal Component:
xf=xi + vxi t
Where:
X- horizontal distance
Xf- final horizontal distance
Xi-initial horizontal distance
Vxi- initial horizontal velocity
t- time
Vertical component:
yf=yi + vyi t + ½ at2
vfy2=viy2 -2ay
vfy=viy-at
Where:
y- vertical distance
yf- final vertical distance
yi- initial vertical distance
t- time
a- gravity (acceleration due to gravity 9.8m/s 2)
vyf- final vertical velocity
vyi-initial vertical velocity
Vector:
Vix=vicosθ
Viy=visinθ
Where:
θ - angle
Vi- initial velocity of the projectile
Example #1:
A place kicker kicks a football with a velocity of 20.0 m/s and at an angle of 53 degrees.
(a) How long is the ball in the air?
(b) How far away does it land?
(c) How high does it travel?
Given: vi= 20.0m/s θ =530
Solution:
a. How long is the ball in the air?
Equation to be used:
y=viyt + ½ at2
Based on the given we don’t have the value of v iy , let’s first identify the value of it.
Using the equation:
viy= vi sin θ
= 20.0 m/s sin 530
=15.97m/s
Then we can now solve for t.
y=viyt + ½ at2
Substitute the value of each variable
y=0 if it begins and ends at the ground level. Its displacement is Zero
0=15.97m/s (t) + ½ (-9.8m/s2) t2
Then solve.
0=15.97m/s t – 4.9m/s2 t2
-15.97m/s t= -4.9m/s2 t2
Divide both side with -t
15.97m/s = 4.9 m/s2 t
Divide both side with 4.9m/s2
t= 3.26s
b. How far away does it land?
Since it is talking about the horizontal distance and the horizontal acceleration is zero, we’re going to
use the equation:
x=vixt
Based on the given we don’t have the value of v ix, lets identify ir first
Vix=vicosθ
=20.0m/s cos 530
=12.04m/s
The substitute the value in the equation
x=vixt
x=(12.04m/s) 3.26s
x=39.25m
c. how high does it travel?
We make use of the equation:
y=viyt + ½ at2
Since we are talking about the maximum height, we are going to cut the time into half. 3.26s/2 = 1.63s
y=15.97m/s (1.63s) + ½ (-9.8m/s2) (1.63s)2
y=13.01m
Example #2 :
Zachael, a basketball player throws the ball with an initial velocity of 40.0m/s at angle of 35 degrees.
a. What is the time at the maximum height?
b. What is the maximum height reached?
c. What is the total time of flight?
d. What is the range of the projectile?
Given: vi=40.0m/s θ =350
Solution:
Let’s first identify the vix and the viy since it will be used in the following problems
viy= vi sin θ viy=40.0m/s sin 35 viy= 22.94m/s
Vix=vicosθ vix=40.0m/s cos 35 vix= 32.77m/s
a. What is the time at the maximum height?
At maximum height, the time is called half time of flight
The equation to be used is: vfy=viy + at
Then substitute the value: at maximum height final vertical velocity is zero.
0=22.94m/s + (-9.8m/s2) t
-22.94m/s= -9.8m/s2 t
t=2.34s
b. what is the maximum height?
The equation to be used:
y=viyt + ½ at2
Substitute the value:
y= 22.94m/s (2.34s) + ½ (-9.8m/s2) (2.34s)2
y=53.67m – 26.83m
y=26.84m
c. What is the total time of flight?
Just multiply the half time by 2. t=2 (2.34s) t=4.68s
d. What is the range of the projectile?
Equation to be used:
x=vixt
x=32.77m/s (4.68s)
x=153.36m
Example #3: Show your solution.
A rock is thrown with an initial velocity of 30 m/s along the vertical and 40m/s along the horizontal.
A. What is the time of the half of flight? Answer: 3.06s
B. What is the maximum height? Answer: 45.92m
C. What is the range of the projectile? Answer: 244.8m
Let’s Try!
1. A marble is thrown horizontally from a table top with a velocity of 1.50 m/s. The marble falls 0.70 m
away from the table’s edge.
A) How high is the lab table?
B) What is the marble’s velocity just before it hits the floor?
2. A volleyball is tossed vertically upward, with an initial velocity of 5 m/s and caught back at the same
level as when it was thrown. What is the velocity of the ball at that point?
3. A projectile is fired straight up at 141m/s at an angle of 45 degrees.
a. What is the time at the maximum height?
b. What is the maximum height reached?
c. What is the total time of flight?
d. What is the range of the projectile?
4. Harry accidentally falls out of a helicopter that is travelling at 100m/s. He plunges into a swimming
pool 2 seconds later. Assuming no air resistance, what was the horizontal distance between Harry and
the swimming pool when he fel from the helicopter?
5. A boy on a 20m high tower throws a ball of a distance 60m, at what seed, in m/s is the ball thrown?
