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Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

Lesson 4.3
Horizontally Launched Projectiles

Contents
Introduction 1
Learning Objectives 2
Warm Up 2
Learn about It! 4

Projectile Motion 5
Horizontally Launched Projectiles 5
Calculations for the Horizontal Component 7
Calculations for the Vertical Component 7
Key Points 14
Key Formulas 14
Check Your Understanding 17
Challenge Yourself 19
Bibliography 19
Key to Try It! 20


Lesson 4.3

Introduction
Physics shows us a realm of wonders. It enables us to visualize and predict the outcomes of
certain actions. In the case of motion, for instance, like the stunt ride shown above, physics
equips the mind with the right devices to calibrate actions and decisions accordingly and
with all conditions considered to arrive at the desired outcome. The following lesson on
projectile motion best exemplifies this. Let us now try to explore how the interplay of its
variables makes this possible.

4.3. Horizontally Launched Projectiles 1


DepEd Competencies
Learning Objectives

This lesson serves as a prerequisite or
In this lesson, you should be able to do the
enrichment for the following DepEd
following: competencies:
● Characterize the motion of ● Deduce the consequences of

the independence of vertical
horizontally launched projectiles.
and horizontal components of
● Express the equations in determining projectile motion
(STEM_GP12KIN-Ic-22).
the horizontal and vertical
● Calculate range, time of flight,
components of horizontally launched and maximum heights of
projectiles in motion. projectiles
● Calculate unknown quantities in
● Solve problems involving
problems that involve horizontally two-dimensional motion in
launched projectiles in motion. contexts, such as, but not
limited to ledge jumping, movie
stunts, basketball, and safe
locations during firework
displays

Warm Up
Projectile Motion 7 minutes
The simulation you are about to interact with will help you visualize the motion of a
horizontally-launched projectile, as well as its relationship to other kinematic variables.

Materials
● projectile motion simulation
● pen and paper



Procedure
1. Consider the situation below:
You rolled a pool ball across a tabletop such that it travelled with a speed of 3 m/s.
Before it completely fell off, however, it bumped with another pool ball until both
balls were about to fall off. Which pool ball will fall first—the one about to drop
straight to the ground, or the one hastily falling off at 3 m/s? Briefly discuss your
predictions with a partner.

2. Now, kindly refer to the simulation. A screenshot, showing its initial conditions, is
presented in Fig. 4.3.1.

Projectile Motion
University of Colorado Boulder, “Projectile Motion,” PhET
Interactive Simulations,
http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/projectile-motion/latest/
projectile-motion_en.html, last accessed on March 17, 2020

Fig. 4.3.1. Projectile motion PhET simulation

3. Set the simulation to the following initial conditions:
● Angle: 0°
● Initial Speed: 5 m/s



● Height: 10 m
● Air Resistance: unchecked
● Tick the “Slow” button.
4. Launch the projectile.
5. Vary the conditions as follows:
a. Initial Speed: 10 m/s; Height: 10 m
b. Initial Speed: 20 m/s; Height: 10 m
6. Drag the Results Table on the final position of the projectile and note the results in
Table 4.3.1.

Table 4.3.1. Results of the projectile motion simulation
Angle Initial Speed Height Time Range
5 m/s 10 m

0° 10 m/s 10 m
20 m/s 10 m

Guide Questions
1. Considering that the launch angle is constantly set at 0°, did varying the initial speed
affect the time the projectile spent in the air?
2. Recall your previous lesson on free fall. What do you think best explains the answer
for item no. 1?
3. How would you characterize the relationship between initial speed and range based
on the results of the simulation?

Learn about It!

A projectile refers to any object that has an initial velocity, but proceeds through a
parabolic path, called a trajectory, entirely influenced by acceleration due to gravity and air
resistance. For the entirety of the discussion that follows, we will be treating projectiles
simply as particles with (1) constant direction and magnitude, and (2) gravitational



acceleration, disregarding other factors like air resistance and the Earth’s rotation and
curvature.

What is projectile motion?

Projectile Motion
You have learned from your previous lessons that gravitational acceleration is entirely
vertical. For this reason, projectile motion is limited to a vertical plane strictly identified by
the initial velocity’s direction. This two-dimensional motion of a projectile may be visualized
in an xy-coordinate plane, as shown in Fig. 4.3.2, comprising both x- and y-axes. Observe
how the projectile heads in the vertical plane with the initial velocity vector . Its
trajectory, represented by the dotted blue lines, are influenced entirely by gravitational
acceleration and its initial velocity .

Fig. 4.3.2. Motion diagram of an object in UAM

What are the motion characteristics of horizontally

launched projectiles?

Suppose an object has been thrown horizontally from a given height, such as the yellow ball
in Fig. 4.3.3, whose motion is contrasted against the red ball in a free fall. This yellow ball’s



initial velocity is considered both its initial and final horizontal velocities—since horizontal
velocity remains unchanged. Moreover, the yellow ball’s initial vertical velocity is zero.
Remember that the horizontal motion of a projectile is independent of, or does not have an
effect on its vertical motion.

Fig. 4.3.3. Free fall (red ball) and horizontal projectile motion (yellow)

For the red ball and the yellow ball, the acceleration’s x-component is 0 (ax = 0) and the
y-component is equivalent to ay = 9.8 m/s2. A projectile can then be defined as an object
whose motion, in the absence of air resistance, consists of horizontal motion with
constant velocity and vertical motion with constant acceleration.



What are horizontally launched projectiles?

Calculations for the Horizontal Component
Because the acceleration of a horizontally-launched projectile along the x- and y-axes are
constant, you can use the kinematic equations you have used for constant acceleration. For
the horizontal component (x-axis), acceleration along the horizontal is zero, thus:

Equation 4.3.1

where vx is the object’s final velocity along the horizontal, and v0x is the object’s initial velocity
along the horizontal.

Equation 4.3.2

where x is the object’s final position along the horizontal, x0 is the object’s initial position
along the horizontal, v0x is the object’s initial velocity along the horizontal, and t is the
elapsed time for the entire motion along the trajectory.

Calculations for the Vertical Component
For the vertical component, substitute y for x accordingly and remember that the
acceleration along the y-axis is equal to ‒9.8 m/s2. Therefore:

Equation 4.3.3

where vy is the object’s final velocity along the vertical, v0y is the object’s initial velocity along
the vertical, g is the object’s acceleration due to gravity equivalent to ‒9.8 m/s2, and t is the
elapsed time for the entire motion along the trajectory.



Equation 4.3.4

where y is the object’s final position along the vertical, y0 is the object’s initial position along
the vertical, v0y is the object’s initial velocity along the vertical, g is the object’s acceleration
due to gravity equivalent to ‒9.8 m/s2, and t is the elapsed time for the entire motion along
the trajectory.

Equation 4.3.5

where vy is the object’s final velocity along the vertical, v0y is the object’s initial velocity along
the vertical, g is the object’s acceleration due to gravity equivalent to ‒9.8 m/s2, y is the
object’s final position along the vertical, and y0 is the object’s initial position along the
vertical.

Again, note that the initial velocity along the vertical component for horizontally
launched projectiles, is zero. Therefore, any term in the equations above with will be
cancelled out. This is because along the vertical component, the object behaves similar to an
object dropped from a certain height, and follows a free fall motion.

What are the equations for both horizontal and

vertical components of horizontally launched

projectiles?

Table 4.3.2 shows a list of equations used to calculate position, velocity, and time of flight of
projectiles.



Remember
A projectile’s trajectory consists of both horizontal and vertical
motions with constant velocity and constant acceleration, respectively.
Keep in mind that these two components are independent of each
other.

Table 4.3.2. Velocity and acceleration of the horizontal and vertical components of
projectiles
Velocity
Position
(in meters per Acceleration
(in meters)
second)
Horizontal

Component
Vertical
Component

Let’s Practice!
Example 1
Right off of a cliff’s edge, a stunt rider has jumped with his motorcycle with a horizontal
velocity of 9.0 m/s. Determine the motorcycle’s position 1 second after it took off the cliff’s
edge.

Solution
Step 1: Identify what is required in the problem.
You are asked to determine the motorcycle’s position 1 second after it took off the
cliff’s edge.



Step 2: Identify the given in the problem.

For the horizontal component:
The motorcycle's initial horizontal velocity (9.0 m/s) and the elapsed time t (1
second) are given. The initial position is zero.

For the vertical component:
The elapsed time t is given. The acceleration along the vertical is ‒9.8 m/s2.

Step 3: Write the working equations.

, which was derived from

Step 4: Substitute the given values.


Step 5: Find the answers.

Hence, the position of the motorcycle along the horizontal is 9.0 m, and along the
vertical is ‒4.9 m after it took off the cliff’s edge. The negative position along the vertical
implies that the motorcycle’s final position (in the problem’s context) is below its initial
position.



1 Try It!
Billie threw a ball forward with a horizontal velocity of 8.7 m/s. Calculate the ball’s
position after 2.3 seconds.

Example 2
Calculate from how high a ball will fall if it is thrown forward with a final velocity of 10 m/s
and lands 30.5 m away horizontally.

Solution
You are asked to determine the ball’s final position along the horizontal.

The final position along the horizontal x (30.5 m) and the final velocity vx (10 m/s)
are given.

The initial velocity along the vertical is 0.

Solve for the value of time t. Since the horizontal speed is given, t may be
computed through .

Use the working equation to solve for the final

position along the vertical.




Step 5: Find the answer.

Hence, the ball’s final position along the vertical is ‒45.6 m. This means that the ball fell
from an elevated height of 45.6 m.

2 Try It!
Calculate how far a ball will fall if it is thrown forward with a final velocity of 15.65 m/s
and lands 17.87 m away horizontally.

Example 3
A block of wood fell off a horizontal desk with a velocity of 1.10 m/s and landed on the floor
after 0.48 s. Calculate how high the desk is from the floor and how far from the desk’s edge
the wood will be when it hits the floor.

Solution
You are asked to calculate the desk’s height from the ground and the distance the
wood travelled from the desk’s edge.

The woodblock’s initial velocity (1.10 m/s) is given.

The elapsed time (0.48 s) is given. The initial velocity along the vertical is 0 m/s and
the acceleration is ‒9.8 m/s2.

To calculate the desk’s height:
where y = 0 (The wood is understood to have



already fallen from the floor, hence, the initial position along the vertical,
also signifies the desk’s height.

To calculate the horizontal distance of wood from desk:
where x is the final position along the horizontal

and x0 is equivalent to 0 m, signifying the wood’s initial position along the
horizontal.

To calculate the desk’s height H :
where signifies height H.

To calculate the horizontal distance D of wood from desk:
where signifies distance D.

Step 5: Find the answers.

Hence, the desk’s height from the ground is 1.13 m and the distance the wood travelled
from the desk’s edge is 0.53 m.

3 Try It!
Suppose your physics notebook went sliding off your table with a speed of 1.23 m/s
and hit the ground after 0.55 s. Calculate how high the table is from the ground and
how far from the table’s edge will the notebook be when it hits the ground.



Key Points
___________________________________________________________________________________________

● A projectile refers to any object that has an initial velocity, but proceeds through a
path called a trajectory. Its motion is called projectile motion.
● The two-dimensional motion of a projectile may be visualized in an xy-coordinate
plane, comprising both x- and y-axes. The horizontal and vertical components
produced by these motions are independent of each other.
● In the absence of air resistance, a projectile’s motion consists of horizontal motion
with constant velocity and vertical motion with constant acceleration.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Key Formulas
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Concept Formula Description
Horizontal Use this formula to

Component where determine the projectile’s
(Motion along the ● vx is the object’s final final velocity along the
x-axis) velocity along the horizontal if its initial
horizontal, and velocity is given.
● v0x is the object’s initial
velocity along the
horizontal.
Use this formula to solve for
where the horizontal component
● x is the object’s final of horizontally launched
position along the projectiles.
horizontal;



● x0 is the object’s initial

position along the
horizontal;
● v0x is the object’s initial
velocity along the
horizontal, and
● t is the elapsed time for
the entire motion along
the trajectory.
Vertical Component Use this formula to solve an

(Motion along the object’s final velocity along
where
y-axis) the y-axis if the initial
● vy is the object’s final
velocity along the vertical
velocity along the vertical;
and the elapsed time are
● v0y is the object’s initial
given.

● g is the object’s
acceleration due to gravity
equivalent to ‒9.8 m/s2,
and
the trajectory.

the vertical component of
where horizontally-launched
● y is the object’s final projectiles.
position along the vertical;
● y0 is the object’s initial
position along the vertical;




equivalent to ‒9.8 m/s2,
and
the trajectory.

the final velocity along the

vertical if the initial velocity
where
and the position of the
● vy is the object’s final
object along the vertical are
given.
equivalent to ‒9.8 m/s2;
● y is the object’s final
position along the vertical,
and
● y0 is the object’s initial
position along the vertical.

___________________________________________________________________________________________



Check Your Understanding

A. Identify whether each statement is true or false.

_________________________ 1. Gravitational acceleration is entirely horizontal.
_________________________ 2. A projectile’s initial vertical velocity is zero.
_________________________ 3. A projectile’s initial vertical velocity is always equal to
its final vertical velocity.
_________________________ 4. The horizontal and vertical components of projectile

motion are inversely proportional.
_________________________ 5. A projectile has vertical motion that has constant

acceleration.
_________________________ 6. To calculate a projectile’s final horizontal position, the

equation is used.
_________________________ 7. A projectile has horizontal motion with constant

velocity.
_________________________ 8. Vertical acceleration is equivalent to 9.8 m/s2.
_________________________ 9. A projectile’s acceleration along the x-axis is zero.
_________________________ 10. To calculate a projectile’s final position along the
vertical, the equation is used.



B. Solve the following problems. Kindly ignore the effects of

air resistance.

A marble rolled off of a 1-m high tabletop with an initial horizontal velocity of 10 m/s .

1. Determine its final velocity.
2. How much time will it take for the marble to hit the floor?
3. How far will the ball head forward before reaching the floor?

A box of supplies has been dropped from a helicopter 512 meters high. The box fell 410
meters horizontally from its initial falling point.

4. How long will it take for the box to reach the ground?
5. How fast was the helicopter flying when the box fell?
6. What is the velocity of the box right before it fell on the ground?

A ball is thrown with a horizontal velocity of 4.5 m/s from a ledge and it fell on the water
5 meters away.

7. What is the ball’s final velocity?
8. How much time did it take the ball to hit the water?
9. How high above the water is the ledge?

A motorcycle rider dove off a cliff while pulling off a stunt with a horizontal velocity of
10.13 m/s.

10. What is the motorcycle’s position along the horizontal after 1 second?



Challenge Yourself

Answer the following questions.
1. Cite at least three examples of horizontally launched projectiles.

2. Consider two bullets of the same weight. Suppose the first bullet is fired forward out
of a gun and the second one is dropped from a barrel’s end. Which of the two bullets
will hit the ground first? Explain your answer.
3. What will happen to a horizontally launched projectile when gravity is removed?
4. A hammer fell from a yacht while it is at rest at sea and dropped on the deck floor
underneath. If the yacht will start to move with a constant velocity and the hammer
is dropped from the same place, will it fall on the same place it has fallen when the
yacht was at rest?
5. Using your knowledge of projectile motion, how do you think you can best optimize a
volleyball jump-serve?

Bibliography
Faughn, Jerry S. and Raymond A. Serway. Serway’s College Physics (7th ed). Singapore:
Brooks/Cole, 2006.

Giancoli, Douglas C. Physics Principles with Applications (7th ed). USA: Pearson Education,
2014.

Halliday, David, Robert Resnick and Kenneth Krane. Fundamentals of Physics (5th ed). USA:
Wiley, 2002.

Serway, Raymond A. and John W. Jewett, Jr. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern
Physics (9th ed). USA: Brooks/Cole, 2014.

Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. Sears and Zemansky’s University
Physics with Modern Physics (13th ed). USA: Pearson Education, 2012.



Key to Try It!

1. x = 20.0 m; y = ‒25.9 m
2. y = ‒6.39 m
3. H = ‒1.48 m; x = 0.677 m


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Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

Learn about It! 4

Key Points 14

Key Formulas 14

Check Your Understanding 17

Challenge Yourself 19

Key to Try It! 20

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

Horizontally Launched Projectiles

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

● Characterize the motion of ● Deduce the consequences of

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

Angle Initial Speed Height Time Range

Learn about It!

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

What is projectile motion?

acceleration and its initial velocity .

What are the motion characteristics of horizontally

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

What are horizontally launched projectiles?

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

What are the equations for both horizontal and

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

Step 2: Identify the given in the problem.

, which was derived from

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

Use the working equation to solve for the ﬁnal

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

Step 5: Find the answer.

where y = 0 (The wood is understood to have

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

where x is the ﬁnal position along the horizontal

where signiﬁes height H.

where signiﬁes distance D.

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

Concept Formula Description

Horizontal Use this formula to

Use this formula to solve for

where the horizontal component

● x is the object’s ﬁnal of horizontally launched

position along the projectiles.

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

● x0 is the object’s initial

Vertical Component Use this formula to solve an

Use this formula to solve for

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

velocity along the vertical;

Use this formula to solve for

Unit 4: Motion in Two Dimensions

Check Your Understanding

A. Identify whether each statement is true or false.

_________________________ 1. Gravitational acceleration is entirely horizontal.

_________________________ 2. A projectile’s initial vertical velocity is zero.

_________________________ 4. The horizontal and vertical components of projectile

_________________________ 5. A projectile has vertical motion that has constant

_________________________ 6. To calculate a projectile’s ﬁnal horizontal position, the

_________________________ 7. A projectile has horizontal motion with constant

_________________________ 8. Vertical acceleration is equivalent to 9.8 m/s2.

_________________________ 9. A projectile’s acceleration along the x-axis is zero.

_________________________ 10. To calculate a projectile’s ﬁnal position along the