Projectile Motion – Practice Problems II

Physics

Horizontal Projectile Motion

- x-component vx = x = vx t
- y-component vyf = vyi + g t y = vyi t + gt 2 2gy= vyf 2 – vyi 2 g=-9.8m/s2

1. A diver runs horizontally with a speed of 1.2 m/s off a platform that is 10.0 m above the
water. What is his speed just before striking the water?

2. An airplane is moving horizontally with a constant velocity of 115 m/s at an altitude of

1050m. The plane releases a care package that falls to the ground with a curved trajectory.
Ignoring air resistance, determine the time required for the package to hit the ground.

Vectors and Trigonometry

3. In the diagram shown below, find y and the angle 

12
y


10

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4. For the vector shown, determine the x and y components

52



5. For the vector shown, determine the x and y components

128


General Projectile Motion

X-component : x = vx t where vx = v cosθ

Y-component : vyf = vyi + gt , y = vyi t + (1/2)gt2 , 2gy = vyf 2- vyi 2 where vy= vsinθ

6. A boy kicks a soccer ball, giving it an initial speed of 7.5m/s at an angle of 27° above the
horizontal(=ground). How high will the ball go? How far will it travel?
a) 1.21m, 4.64m b) 1.21m, 2.32m c) 0.59m, 4.64m d) 0.59m, 2.32m

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7. An object is thrown up at angle of θ=30º with the initial speed of 19m/s.
i) Find the maximum height of the object and the maximum horizontal distance
a) 4.6m, 32m b) 7.3m, 32m c) 9.6m, 19m d) 13.4m, 19m

ii) Find the minimum speed of the object during the motion
a) 16.45m/s b) 11.54m/s c) 5.34m/s d) 0m/s

iii) Find the total time in the air.

a) 0.82s b) 1.22s c) 1.54s d) 1.93s

8. An artillery shell is fired with an initial speed of 300m/s at 55° above the horizontal. It
explodes on a mountainside 42s after firing. What are the x and y coordinates of the shell where
it explodes, relative to its firing point?

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9. A stone is thrown from the top of a wall upward at an angle of 30° to the horizontal
and with an initial speed of 20m/s. If the height+arm release point is 4m above the
ground, find the horizontal distance x. (remember that the release point is the origin (0.0)
and the stone falls 4m below the origin)

4m

x= ?