PHYSICS 9 UNIT 2 (Projectile Motion)

PROJECTILE MOTION

Any object that is projected by some means and continues to move due to its own inertia (mass)

• During the early age of civilization, man used common things and objects in his environment for survival.
• It was used as a projectile, which was thrown at enemies or wild animals.
• Man used the very principle of throwing in the development of weapons from the humble sling to
modern-day missiles.

Examples:

• basketball that is shot to the hoop

• bullet shot from a rifle
• arrow that is shot from a bow

Components of a Projectile
• 𝒗𝒙 is the horizontal component
• 𝑣𝑦 is the vertical component

Horizontal Component

NEVER CHANGES covers equal displacements in equal time periods. This means the initial horizontal velocity
equals the final horizontal velocity.

In other words, the horizontal velocity is CONSTANT. Gravity DOES NOT work horizontally to increase or decrease
the velocity.

Vertical Component

CHANGES (due to gravity), do 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 the MAGNITUDE INCREASES and the direction is DOWNWARD

uniform motion along the horizontal (x)

uniformly accelerated motion along the vertical (y)

Combining the Components

Together, these components produce what is called a trajectory or path. This path is parabolic in nature.
Projectile Motion

• Maximum height (h) - height of the projectile when the vertical velocity is zero
• Range (R) - horizontal displacement the projectile travels
• Flight time (ttotal) - time the projectile is in the air
• Angle of Projection (𝜽) - angle in degrees with respect to the horizontal

Horizontally Launched Projectiles

Projectiles that have NO upward trajectory and NO initial VERTICAL velocity.

Projectiles Launched at an Angle

Projectiles that have an upward trajectory, initial vertical velocity, and launch at an angle.

Factors affecting the height and range of a projectile

Initial Velocity
• As the initial velocity increases, the height and range also increase, and vice versa.

Angle of release
• As the angle gets steeper, the height of the projectile increases, and vice versa.
• The optimal angle for the maximum range is 45°.

Formula: Where:
◼ 𝑅 = 𝑣𝑖𝑥 𝑡 ◼ vx = horizontal velocity
◼ ℎ = 𝑔𝑡 2 /2 ◼ vy = vertical velocity
◼ 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑔𝑡 ◼ vi = initial velocity
◼ 𝑣𝑖 = √𝑣𝑥 2 + 𝑣𝑦 2 ◼ vix = initial horizontal velocity
◼ 𝑣𝑖𝑥 = vi cosθ ◼ viy = initial vertical velocity
◼ 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = vi sinθ ◼ vfy = final vertical velocity
𝑣𝑖 2 ◼ t = time to reach max height
◼ 𝑅= (Range at angle 45°)
𝑔 ◼ ttotal = total time of flight
◼ t = 𝑣𝑖𝑦 / g (Use for max. height) ◼ h = height
◼ ttotal = 2 𝑣𝑖𝑦 / g (Use for range) ◼ R = range
◼ θ = tan-1 (y/x) ◼ g = acceleration due to gravity (9.8m/𝑠 2 )

Sample problems

1. A place kicker kicks a football with a velocity of 20.0 m/s and at an angle of 53 degrees.
• How long is the ball in the air?
• How far away does it land?
• How high does it travel?

2. A long jumper leaves the ground at an angle of 45º at a speed of 12m/s. how far and high does he
jump?