PROJECTILE MOTION

What is a Projectile?

Projectile – is the
motion of an object
upon which the only
force acting is
gravity.
POJECTILES MOVE IN 2 DIMENSIONS

A projectiles move
in 2 dimensions,
therefore, it has 2
components: horizontal
and vertical
Horizontal Velocity Component
● It NEVER changes, covers equal displacements in equal time periods.
This means that initial horizontal velocity equals to the final horizontal
velocity.

In other words, the horizontal

velocity is CONSTANT! But
why?
Gravity does not work
horizontally to increase or
decrease the velocity.
Vertical Velocity Component
● Changes (due to gravity), does not cover equal
displacements in equal time periods.

Both the MAGNITUDE and

DIRECTION change. As the
projectile moves up, the
MAGNITUDE DECREASES and its
direction is UPWARD. As it moves
down, MAGNITUDE INCREASES
and the direction is DOWNWARD.
Combining the Components:

COMPONENTS MAGNITUDE DIRECTION

Horizontal Constant Constant

Vertical Changes Changes

These components
produce the Trajectory
or the Path. This path
is Parabolic in nature.
PROJECTILE MOTION

● To analyze a projectile in 2 dimensions, we

need 2 equations. One for the “x” direction
and one for the “y” direction.
Kinematic Equations for Projectile Motion
Kinematic Equations for Projectile Motion
Horizontal Components (x) Vertical Components (y)

1 1
𝑑𝑥 = 𝑉𝑜𝑥 * t + * 𝑎𝑥 *
2
𝑡2 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 * t + * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑡 2
2

𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 𝑉𝑜𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 * t 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 * t

𝑉𝑓𝑥 ² = 𝑉𝑜𝑥 ² + 2 * 𝑎𝑥 * 𝑑𝑥 𝑉𝑓𝑦 ² = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 ² + 2 * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑑𝑦

𝑉𝑜𝑥 +𝑉𝑓𝑥 𝑉𝑜𝑦 +𝑉𝑓𝑦

𝑑𝑥 = *t 𝑑𝑦 = *t
2 2
Simplified Kinematic Equations for Projectile Motion

Horizontal Components (x) Vertical Components (y)

𝑑𝑥 = 𝑉𝑜𝑥 * t 1
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 * t + * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑡 2
2

𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 𝑉𝑜𝑥 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 * t

𝑉𝑓𝑥 ² = 𝑉𝑜𝑥 ²
𝑉𝑓𝑦 ² = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 ² + 2 * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑑𝑦

𝑉𝑜𝑦 +𝑉𝑓𝑦
𝑑𝑦 = *t
2
Simplified Kinematic Equations for Projectile Motion

Horizontal Components (x) Vertical Components (y)

𝑑𝑥 = 𝑉𝑜𝑥 * t 1
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 * t + * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑡 2
2

𝑉𝑓𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 * t

𝑉𝑓𝑦 ² = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 ² + 2 * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑑𝑦

𝑉𝑜𝑦 +𝑉𝑓𝑦
𝑑𝑦 = *t
2
 HORIZONTALLY LAUNCHED PROJECTILES

● Projectiles which has

NO upward trajectory
has NO initial vertical
velocity.
HORIZONTALLY LAUNCHED PROJECTILES
EXAMPLE 1:
A volcano erupts, and a
chunk of hot magma is launched x y

horizontally with a speed of 20 t=? t=?

m/s from a height of 94 m. We 𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -9.8 m/s²
can ignore air resistance. 𝑑𝑥 = ? 𝑑𝑦 = 94 m
a. What is the magma's horizontal 𝑉𝑜𝑥 = 20 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 = 0 m/s
displacement from the launch to when it
𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 20 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = x
hits the ground?
Kinematic Equation for Time (t)

Horizontal Components (x) Vertical Components (y)

𝑑𝑥 = 𝑉𝑜𝑥 * t 1
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 * t + * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑡 2
2

x y 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 * t
t=? t=?
𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -9.8 m/s² 𝑉𝑓𝑦 ² = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 ² + 2 * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 = ? 𝑑𝑦 = 94 m

𝑉𝑜𝑥 = 20 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 = 0 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 +𝑉𝑓𝑦

𝑑𝑦 = *t
𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 20 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = x 2
 Solution for Time (t): x y
t=? t=?
dy = Voy * t + ½ *ay * 𝑡2 𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -9.8 m/s²
- 94 m = 0 m/s * t + 0.5 *(-9.8 m/ 𝑠 2 ) * 𝑡 2 𝑑𝑥 = ? 𝑑𝑦 = 94 m

- 94 m = 0.5 * (-9.8 m/ 𝑠 2 ) * 𝑡 2 𝑉𝑜𝑥 = 20 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 = 0 m/s

- 94 m = - 4.9 m/𝑠 2 𝑡 2 𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 20 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = x

−94 𝑚 − 4.9 m/𝑠 2 2

= 𝑡
− 4.9 m/𝑠 2 − 4.9 m/𝑠 2

19.18 𝑠 2 = 𝑡 2
19.18 𝑠 2 = 𝑡 2

4.38 s = t
Kinematic Equation for Horizontal Displacement (dx)

Horizontal Components (x) Vertical Components (y)

𝑑𝑥 = 𝑉𝑜𝑥 * t 1
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 * t + * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑡 2
2

x y 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 * t
t = 4.38 s t = 4.38 s
𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -9.8 m/s² 𝑉𝑓𝑦 ² = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 ² + 2 * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 = ? 𝑑𝑦 = 94 m

𝑉𝑜𝑥 = 20 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 = 0 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 +𝑉𝑓𝑦

𝑑𝑦 = *t
𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 20 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = x 2
Solution for Horizontal Displacement (dx) x y
t = 4.38 s t = 4.38 s
dx = Vox * t 𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -9.8 m/s²

dx = 20 m/s * 4.38 s 𝑑𝑥 = ? 𝑑𝑦 = 94 m
𝑉𝑜𝑥 = 20 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 = 0 m/s
dx = 87.6 m
𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 20 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = x
𝑚 𝑠
x1=m
𝑠
HORIZONTALLY LAUNCHED PROJECTILES
EXAMPLE 1:
A volcano erupts, and a
chunk of hot magma is launched x y

horizontally with a speed of 208 t = 4.38 s t = 4.38 s

m/s from a height of 94 m. We 𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -9.8 m/s²
can ignore air resistance. 𝑑𝑥 = 87.6 m 𝑑𝑦 = 94 m
a. What is the magma's horizontal 𝑉𝑜𝑥 = 20 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 = 0 m/s
displacement from the launch to when it
𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 20 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = x
hits the ground?
HORIZONTALLY LAUNCHED PROJECTILES
EXAMPLE 2:
A pumpkin is thrown
horizontally off of a building at a x y
speed of 2.5 m/s and travels a t=? t=?
horizontal distance of 12 m before 𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -9.8 m/s²
hitting the ground. We can ignore 𝑑𝑥 = 12 m 𝑑𝑦 = x
air resistance.
𝑉𝑜𝑥 = 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 = 0 m/s
a. What is the pumpkin's final
𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = ?
vertical velocity when it hits the
ground?
Kinematic Equation for Time (t)

Horizontal Components (x) Vertical Components (y)

𝑑𝑥 = 𝑉𝑜𝑥 * t 1
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 * t + * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑡 2
2

x y 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 * t
t=? t=?

𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -9.8 m/s² 𝑉𝑓𝑦 ² = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 ² + 2 * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑑𝑦

𝑑𝑥 = 12 m 𝑑𝑦 = x

𝑉𝑜𝑥 = 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 = 0 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 +𝑉𝑓𝑦

𝑑𝑦 = *t
𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = ? 2
Solution for the Total Time (t) : x y
t=? t=?
dx = Vox * t
𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -9.8 m/s²
12 m = 2.5 m/s * t
𝑑𝑥 = 12 m 𝑑𝑦 = x
12 m = 2.5 m/s t 𝑉𝑜𝑥 = 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 = 0 m/s
12 𝑚 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = ?
= t
2.5 m/s 2.5 m/s

4.8 s = t Total time

Kinematic Equation for Final Vertical Velocity (Vfy)

Horizontal Components (x) Vertical Components (y)

𝑑𝑥 = 𝑉𝑜𝑥 * t 1
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 * t + * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑡 2
2

x y 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 * t
t = 4.8 s t = 4.8 s

𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -9.8 m/s² 𝑉𝑓𝑦 ² = 𝑉𝑜𝑦 ² + 2 * 𝑎𝑦 * 𝑑𝑦

𝑑𝑥 = 12 m 𝑑𝑦 = x

𝑉𝑜𝑥 = 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 = 0 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 +𝑉𝑓𝑦

𝑑𝑦 = *t
𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = ? 2
Solution for Final Vertical Velocity (Vfy) :

Vfy = Voy + ay * t
Vfy = 0 m/s + (-9.8 m/𝑠 2 ) * 4.8 s
Vfy = -9.8 m/𝑠 2 * 4.8 s

Vfy = - 47.04 m/s x y

t = 4.8 s t = 4.8 s
𝑚 𝑠 𝑚 𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -9.8 m/s²
𝑠2
x1 = 𝑠
𝑑𝑥 = 12 m 𝑑𝑦 = x
𝑉𝑜𝑥 = 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 = 0 m/s
𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = ?
HORIZONTALLY LAUNCHED PROJECTILES
EXAMPLE 2:
A pumpkin is thrown
horizontally off of a building at a x y
speed of 2.5 m/s and travels a t = 4.8 s t = 4.8 s
horizontal distance of 12 m before 𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -9.8 m/s²
hitting the ground. We can ignore 𝑑𝑥 = 12 m 𝑑𝑦 = x
air resistance. 𝑉𝑜𝑥 = 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑜𝑦 = 0 m/s
a. What is the pumpkin's vertical 𝑉𝑓𝑥 = 2.5 m/s 𝑉𝑓𝑦 = -47.04 m/s
velocity when it hits the ground?
“End of Horizontally Launched Projectiles”