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Chapter 2.5 : Projectile Motion page 1 / 7

SYLLABUS

Topics Experiment Remarks

a) Independence of Projectile Motion
horizontal and vertical Motion video analysis & Further Reading
Tom Duncan, Advanced Physics
motions. for HK vol. 1 (3rd), John Murray,
b) Simple calculations. 2002 : Chapter 1, pp. 27 – 28.
c) Simple discussion about the Monkey and Hunter Experiment
monkey and hunter Computer simulation Raymond Chan, Beyond 2000
experiment . (2nd) , Radian, 1995 : Chapter 1,
pp.14 - 16.

Peter Fung, Peter Sun , Kenneth

Young, Further Physics vol.1
(3rd), Longman, 1995 : Chapter 4,
pp. 33 - 40.

Learning materials

Monkey and Hunter Experiment

a video to show the monkey and hunter experiment and a briefly explanation of this is given.

Analysis of Projectile Motion

a video to show the vertical motion is independent of the horizontal motion.

Studying the trajectories of Projectile motions of different initial velocities and projected angles
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/projectile-motion

(
Cannon Shooting Game http://jersey.uoregon.edu/vlab/Cannon/index.html)
Play a game of cannon shooting and you will know more about projectile motion.

CONTENTS
Read before U learn

1.1 Introduction to projectile motion A-lelvel Practical Physics for TAS.

Experiment A6 : Monkey and Hunter
Experiment
1.2 Equations of motion
1.3 Air resistance effect Further physics 1, p. 40

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Chapter 2.5 : Projectile Motion page 2 / 7

2.5.1 Introduction to projectile motion

1. Definition
The motion of a particle in 1-D has already been discussed before, now, here comes problems
of particle’s motion in 2-D (x and y directions).

Project2 mon is defined as the common 2-D motion which has aconst v in
X-direction and a
constant acceleration (due to constant force) in Y-direction,
such as free-falling due to gravity, a constant gravitational force, i.e. weight, with initial non-
zero velocity in x-direction.

Figure 1.1-1

Example:
Throwing a stone with 10 cm s-1 at angle 45o from the ground.
Throwing a stone horizontally out from a cliff with 20 cm s-1.
Firing a monkey which is on a tree, by using a gun. (Monkey and hunter Experiment)

2. Independence of x and y motions Time is in common

(i) Demonstration
A boy is walking forward with a constant speed of 1 m/s. While he is walking, he
throws a ball vertically upward. Can he catch the ball?

Vx Vx Vx
o_o
ˊ ˋ

N
to 0

y Tx Tix Tix
He can catch ball the
……………………………………………………………………………………………...

Accuse the main and

……………………………………………………………………………………………...
x of the boy
the ball
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are identical
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Chapter 2.5 : Projectile Motion page 3 / 7

(ii) The total motion is the of the x and y direction motions

Sc
which are always to each other.
SB
A
I Bjccrc projected horizontally

release B The vertical motion of all three

objects are the same no matter
⼗ 㗊 how fast the horizontal speed is.

Uxcnd
⼆0
Uy

moth
o o Figure 1.1-2

y A Be an
hay zero initial velocity

uyo xmothillxc
Uniform velocity with no acceleration in x-direction.
Increasing velocity with uniform acceleration (downwards) in y-direction.

(iii) Monkey and hunter experiment shows the independence of x and y motions.

2.5.2 Equations of motion

UXBSUXA Egni
Consider an object being projected on a horizontal ground with initial speed u with angle q to the
horizontal, and is moving under the influence of gravity without air resistance.
The position of it is given by x (t) , y (t) which is the x and y coordinates of it w.r.t. the original position.
The horizontal and vertical velocity is given by vx (t) and vy (t) respectively.

fm.in
ii v utatw
2 VE u 42cg
7 S uttf.tw
Figure 1.1-3

Consider x-direction only: Consider y-direction only:

(1) NO acceleration, a = 0 (1) Acceleration due to gravity, a = -g (downwards)
(2) Uniform velocity, u cos θ

uxt
(2) Initial velocity, u sin θ

Equations of motion :

x(t) = y(t) =
uytttyt
vx (t) = Ux vy (t) =
Uytayt
ax = 0 ay = - g = -10 ms-2 don'tforget the
direction
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Chapter 2.5 : Projectile Motion page 4 / 7

(a) Trajectory of motion: y (x) (c) Maximum height : H

Eliminate t from x &y, max. y as vy = 0

(b) Time of Flight: T (d) Range of flight : R

time for y = 0 x when t = T

Remarks

(i) Maximum range of the projectile is _________when angle of projectile q equals _________ .

(ii) When angle of projection equals ____________ , the range remains the same as that with
angle q but the time of flight are different. The one with greater horizontal speed is of smaller
time of flight, i.e. the flatter one / the one with smaller projected angle.

(iii) The trajectory of a projectile motion is a parabola as ________________________________.

(iv) K.E. at the position of maximum height is _________________ as the non-zero horizontal
speed remains unchanged.

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Chapter 2.5 : Projectile Motion page 5 / 7

Question

1. A cricket ball is thrown with a velocity of 15 ms-1 from the top of a tower 10 m high at an
angle of 30o to the horizontal.
nnnnnnnrnn
a. Find the time taken for the cricket ball to reach the field.
b. on
Find the maximum height from the field. lie when 10 m
Sydownward
c. How far from the tower will the ball hit the field?
d. Find the ball’s velocity at the instant it hits the field.
U (2.35s, 12.81m,30.5 m, 20.62 ms-1 ,-56.9o to x-axis)
y ii
n
T a Consider y d.rect.hn

雨
八 Sy uytttgt
Nm Sy ⼀
Eke upward as we
Etzsfs 15sm⼼ 9.8 DE
V V Ground
10
It 亡
C Sx tv t 望
b Consider
y drect.hn
C Consider x

gg drectln li
Sx

uxttfc. O
2
y
152 2 Sx ⼆⼆5 wsix 2.35
⼝ 9fDSy
八 y 0卟 ⼈ 30Tm
9 Üy 15 np.TT
⼆
19.62
S vxiux
d oǐx
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Syilltm do Uy Uytgt
v_v
Max height ll.tt 10 21Tm Vy
Vy T.vn 30 4 抄2
Vy 5 by
V
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以 izo

3ys
垐 tn
anakj tcu
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11
0
Two

0⼆ 50.20
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Chapter 2.5 : Projectile Motion page 6 / 7

2. A stone is thrown horizontally at 20 ms-1 from the top of a cliff which is 300m high.

Draw accurately the following graphs :

ax - t, vx - t, sx - t ; ay - t, vy - t, sy - t

( take g = 10 ms-2 )

3. A projectile is launched at an angle 25o to the horizontal with an initial velocity 400ms-1 .
a. Find the range R for a shell fired on a horizontal surface.
b. What is the minimum initial velocity for the shell to achieve this range?
(12.3km, 350 m/s)
八 八
400叫⼩
USMǗH li
X 255 Xti 34Ts
Uwnt Range R
c Consider x dream Sy Uy Itfgf
Sx uxt
⼆

0 4oosmijttfc g.fi i
R 4 oowszijxt
Consider 0 t 400 Sii 4905 t
curect.lu
y 4
I t
oosmz g
0 or t
0 34，5
4 5

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Ux Uws450 seme
Tb ⼆ us.ug.hn
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< IB Physics (SL) : Mechanics >

utóu 450

czfoom
0
Chapter 2.5 : Projectile Motion page 7 / 7

2.5.3 Air resistance effect Further 1, p.40.

Figure 1.1-4

(a) The upper curve is the same for all masses and size of projectile with the same
initial velocity, the lower curve depends on the masses and size of the object thrown.

(b)
Arrentcna
In the presence of air resistance, three changes on the trajectory of projectile will be resulted.
(i) smaller range,
Sx
(ii) smaller maximum height, and
(iii) shape of projectile path.
asymmetric
** (c) The effect of air resistance is relatively smaller if the mass is , the shape is
larger
streamlined , or the size is smaller ( contact surface area).
a
4 Speed
Question of object lsg
If the below diagram shows the path of a stone of mass m projected in air and in vacuum. Try to draw
the paths of a ball of cotton wool with same initial velocity and same size as the stone when it is
projected in vacuum and in air.

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 B
X

Cx D
X

ft
XA

At A until the end A motion

x drect.hn

Ux to air resistance

i.e Sx Uxttaxti i Sx with arvesntne Sx without

Ux crvemcnce
⼀
fun for
a
fair

At C
direction
y
Uy to air resistance

i.e
N Max downward force at A
x
f.vn mcx when uyismcx

VV Weight coin
mm downward force at B
fair decrease in mgnitudd
ifio zero
yet B

vj
0
ujt2gsy.it Hmcx⼆
ǚy4
uj 2g Hmcx
 From B to D
How wn from B t D
y change
fi Vy increases with a decreasing rate
X v Vy Mcveaes
V constant
constantly Mcrecteswhdecreagrē
Weight
to no no

til 比10 U 10

t 2 u 20 U lf

net Fema

Weight
⼀
Ar resistance ma
const increasing speed incranes

i.net F is decreasing
ie an decreasing

At a
very critical moment

far Weight of the

⼆
object

i.e.net 1 0 and a 0

i The velocity will become content

it the magnitude ffciruu

remain unchanged
Conclusion The uiu be with
object moving
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Terminal velocity