PROJECTILE MOTION

Projectile motion

Projectile motion is a motion in which an

object is thrown near the earth’s
surface, and it moves along the curved
path under the action of gravity only.
Motion of a snow boarder descending from a slope
Motion of a rider performing a bike stunt
Motion of water jets coming out from nozzles
 Assumptions used in projectile motion

1. The effect due to air resistance is negligible.

2. The effect due to curvature of the earth is negligible.

3. The effect due to rotation of the earth is negligible.

4. The acceleration due to gravity is constant over the

range of motion.
Idealized model of projectile motion

v H

R
 Projectile
Any object which is projected in the air is called
as projectile.

Projectile
v
H

R
 Point of projection

The point from which the object is projected

in air is called as point of projection.

Point of v
projection
H

R
 Velocity of projection

The velocity with which an object is projected

in air is called as velocity of projection.

Velocity of
projection v
H

R
 Angle of projection

The angle with the horizontal at which an object is

projected in air is called as angle of projection.

v
Angle of H
projection
θ

R
 Trajectory

The parabolic path followed by a projectile in air is

called its trajectory.

v Trajectory
H

R
 Time of flight

Time taken by the projectile to cover the entire

trajectory is called as time of flight.

v
H
T
θ Time of
flight

R
 Maximum height of projectile

It is the maximum vertical distance travelled by the

projectile from the ground level during its motion.

Maximum height
v
H

R
 Horizontal range of projectile
It is the horizontal distance travelled by the
projectile during entire motion.

v
H

R
Horizontal range
Is horizontal and vertical motions are interdependent?

• Both pink and yellow balls are falling

at the same rate.

• Yellow ball is moving horizontally

while it is falling have no effect on
its vertical motion.

• It means horizontal and vertical

motions are independent of each
other.
 Analysis of projectile motion

Motion diagram of a kicked football

 Analysis of projectile motion
Projectile motion Vertical motion + Horizontal motion

𝑦 𝑦

vi
vi𝑦 vi𝑦

vi𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
o vi𝑥 o
Frame - 1
 Analysis of projectile motion
Projectile motion Vertical motion + Horizontal motion

𝑦 𝑦

v1𝑦 v1 v1𝑦
v1𝑥

v1𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
o o
Frame - 2
 Analysis of projectile motion
Projectile motion Vertical motion + Horizontal motion

𝑦 𝑦

v2
v2𝑦

v2𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
o o
Frame - 3
 Analysis of projectile motion
Projectile motion Vertical motion + Horizontal motion

𝑦 𝑦

v3𝑥
v3𝑦 v3 v3𝑦

v3𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
o o
Frame - 4
 Analysis of projectile motion
Projectile motion Vertical motion + Horizontal motion

𝑦 𝑦

vf𝑥 vf𝑥
o 𝑥 o 𝑥

Frame - 5 vf𝑦 vf𝑦

vf
 Analysis of projectile motion
𝑦
v2 = v2𝑥 v2𝑦 = 0
v1𝑦 v1 v1𝑦
v3𝑥
v1𝑥 v3𝑦 v3 v3𝑦

vi −g
vi𝑦 vi𝑦

vf𝑥
o vi𝑥 𝑥

vf𝑦 vf vf𝑦
vi𝑥 v1𝑥 v2𝑥 v3𝑥
vf𝑥
 Important conclusion

Projectile motion is a combination of two

motions:

a) Horizontal motion with constant velocity

b) Vertical motion with constant acceleration

 Equation of trajectory
2
The horizontal distance travelled by the x 1 x
projectile in time ‘t’ along 𝑥-axis is, y = vi sin θ × − g
vi cos θ 2 vi cos θ
x = vi𝑥 t
g
x = (vi cos θ)t y = tan θ x − x 2
2 vi2 cos 2 θ
x
t= … … . . (1)
vi cos θ This is the equation of trajectory of a projectile.
The vertical distance travelled by the projectile As vi , θ and g are constant for a given
in time ‘t’ along 𝑦-axis is, projectile, we can write
1 2 g
y = vi𝑦 t − g t tan θ = α & =β
2 2 2
2 vi cos θ
1 2
y = (vi sin θ)t − g t … … . . (2) y = αx − βx 2
2
Substituting the value of ‘t’ from eq.(1) in eq.(2) Thus y is a quadratic function of x. Hence the
we get, trajectory of a projectile is a parabola.
 Equation for time of flight
The vertical distance travelled by the
2 vi sin θ
projectile in time ‘t’ along 𝑦-axis is, T=
g
1 2
y = viy t − g t This is the equation for time of flight.
2
For symmetrical parabolic path, time
For entire motion, t = T and y = 0 of ascent is equals to time of
descent.
1 T
0 = (vi sin θ)T − g T 2 TA = TD =
2 2

1 vi sin θ
g T 2 = (vi sin θ)T TA = TD =
g
2
 Equation for horizontal range
The equation of trajectory of projectile is vi2 (2 sin θ cos θ)
given by, R=
g
g 2
y = tan θ x − x vi2 sin 2θ
2 vi2 cos 2 θ R=
g
For entire motion, y = 0 and x = R
This is the equation for horizontal range.
g 2
0 = tan θ R − R For a given velocity of projection the range
2 vi2 cos 2 θ
will be maximum when sin 2θ = 1,
g 2 = tan θ R
R 2θ = 90° & θ = 45°
2 vi2 cos 2 θ
Thus range of the projectile is maximum if
g sin θ it is projected in a direction inclined to the
×R=
2 vi2 cos 2 θ cos θ horizontal at an angle of 45°.
 Two angles of projection for the same horizontal range
The equation for horizontal range is From eq. (1) & (2) we say that,
given by, R = R′
vi2 sin 2θ Thus horizontal range of projectile is same
R= … … . . (1)
g for any two complementary angles
Replacing θ by 90° − θ, i.e. θ and 90° − θ.

vi2 sin 2(90° − θ) 𝑦 60°

R′ =
g
vi2 sin(180° − 2θ) 30°
R′ =
g
vi2 sin 2θ
R′ = … … . . (2) R = R′
g o 𝑥
 Equation for maximum height
The third kinematical equation for vertical Case-1: Angle of projection is 45°.
motion is, 2
vi sin 45°
2 2 H=
vf𝑦 = viy −2gy 2g
2
2
At maximum height: vfy = 0 & 𝑦 = H v 1 2
i vi2
H= ⇒ Hmax =
2g 4g
2
0 = vi sin θ −2gH
Case-2: Angle of projection is 90°.
2
2 g H = vi sin θ
vi sin 90° 2
2 H=
vi sin θ 2g
H=
2g
vi2 1 2 vi2
H= ⇒ H=
This is the equation for maximum height. 2g 2g
Thank
you
CLASS ACTIVITY