PROJECTILES

Wile E Coyote Effect

• I’m sure all of you have seen the cartoon

where the Coyote is chasing after the
Road Runner and runs off of the cliff. He
hangs in mid air for a second, looks down,
and then starts to fall.
• The question is how true is this, and how
many people believe it is true?
 Wile E Coyote Effect

A few years ago some researchers in the U.S.

went to elementary schools, junior and senior
high schools, and universities and asked them to
look at the following:
"Ignoring air resistance, which of the
following correctly shows
what an object would do if it rolled off a
cliff?"
Wile E Coyote Effect

1. The object will stop

in midair, and then
start to fall straight
down.
2. The object will
move forward at
first, but will
eventually just fall
straight down.
3. The object will
continue to move
Wile E Coyote Effect
1. About 60% said number 1
was correct. Because this is
what the Coyote always did
in cartoons (some people
actually referred to it in their
explanation of why they chose this
answer),the researchers
called it the Wile E. Coyote
Effect.
2. About 25% said number 2
was correct.
3. Only about 15% answered
number 3.
 Wile E Coyote Effect
C is the correct answer. The object will
continue to move forwards the entire time
it is falling.
 Background

Assumptions for the motion of the object:

All forces acting on it are balanced
Fnet = 0  State of ‘equilibrium’
Newton’s first law of motion, (the law of inertia)
– An object at rest remains at rest until an
unbalanced force acts upon it.
– An object in motion continues in motion (straight
line, constant speed) until an unbalanced force
changes that motion.
 Background

Horizontal and Vertical components of a vector

Kinematics is not limited to 1D
In two dimensions, there are the
x and y axes
Values are split into two
different components
(x and y components)
Movement in the x axis does not
affect movement in the y axis
and vice versa
 VECTOR RESOLUTION

Trigonometry:
– Use sine to determine the length of the side
opposite the angle.
– Use cosine to determine the adjacent
46.0 N side.

46.0
 VECTOR RESOLUTION
Calculate the resultant’s
magnitude by: C  C  C 2
x
2
y

and direction by:  Cy

  tan 1 


 Cx 

• The components of a vector may (must!)

be treated separately!
 Projectile

• A projectile is any object which, when

thrown, shot or otherwise projected,
continues in motion by its own inertia and
is influenced only by the downward force
of gravity.
Note: A force is not required
to keep an object in motion!
 Types of Projectiles

1. An object dropped from rest (1D)

2. An object which is thrown vertically
upwards (1D)
3. An object which is thrown upwards at an
angle (2D)
• Horizontally launched
• Launched at an angle
In all cases, air resistance is
assumed to be negligible.
 Trajectory

The path of any projectile is called

a trajectory.
 Objects Launched Horizontally

• If there were NO GRAVITY, the canon ball would move

at constant speed in a straight line.
• On earth there IS gravity, so the ball would fall
towards earth as it moves horizontally
• Indicates two types of motion
– horizontal constant velocity
– vertical – constant acceleration
 Gravity

Gravity affects what component?

Gravity acts only in a downward direction,
and makes objects fall toward earth in the
downward direction at a rate of 9.8 m/s2.
• So gravity ONLY affects the Vertical
Motion on an object
• The horizontal motion of an object IS NOT
affected by gravity!
 A Dropped Question

If two objects are released simultaneously

from the same height one object is
launched horizontally and the other is
dropped vertically which one will hit the
ground first?

I Believe Button
 A Dropped Question

BOTH will hit the ground at the same time!

• Both objects are being accelerated
towards earth by the same force - gravity!
 Cannon Example

Is there any A cannon is fired

horizontal force horizontally off a high
acting on the ball cliff.
once it leaves the
canon?
• The horizontal
component of the
ball’s motion is
constant.
• This is true for all
projectiles on
 Cannon Example

Is there any vertical A cannon is fired

force acting on the horizontally off a high
canon ball once it cliff.
leaves the canon?
• The vertical
component of the
ball’s motion is
accelerating
downward.
• This is also true for
all projectiles on
 The SCOOP

THE HORIZONTAL COMPONENT OF MOTION

FOR A PROJECTILE IS COMPLETELY
INDEPENDENT OF THE VERTICAL
COMPONENT OF MOTION.

EACH ACTS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE OTHER.

THEIR COMBINED EFFECTS PRODUCE THE

PATH THAT IS FOLLOWED BY THE
PROJECTILE.
 Onto the Numbers
• A projectile shot Notice:
horizontally: 1. The horizontal
component (vx) o
the velocity is the
same
everywhere!
2. The vertical
component (vy) o
the velocity is the
same as if it were
simply falling!
 Key Terms for Projectiles

• Projectile: the object being launched

• Trajectory: the path followed by the projectile
• Range: the horizontal distance traveled by the
projectile
• vx means: horizontal velocity
• vyi means: initial vertical velocity
• vyf means: final vertical velocity
• dx means: horizontal distance (aka - range)
• dy means: vertical distance (aka - height)
 Horizontally Launched Projectiles

Horizontal Component Vertical Component

• vx is a constant • vy = -gt
for displacement (s) or for displacement (s) or
distance (d) distance (d)
• dx = vxt
• dy = - ½ gt2

Proof:
Where g = 9.8 m/s2
for displacement d
if dx = vxt and dy = - ½ gt2
then t = dx substituting dy = - ½ g (dx/ vx )2
vx
-½ g and vx are constants, rearranging we get
dy = (-g / 2vx2) dx2  (-g / 2vx2) = constant = k
Therefore,
y = k x2
 Horizontally Launched Projectiles

A cannon is fired off a high cliff with a

horizontal speed of 100m/s. If it takes 12
seconds for the ball to hit the ground, how
high is the cliff and how far did the cannon
ball travel from the base of the cliff?
 Horizontally Launched Projectiles

A cannon is fired off a high cliff Horizontal

Step 1: Motion
Draw aVertical
picture.Motion
with a horizontal speed of Stepm/s
vx=100 2: Break
viy=0the
m/smotion
100m/s. If it takes 12 t = 12into
s horizontal
t = 12 sand vertical
seconds for the ball to hit the components. Identify the
a = 0 m/s2 a = -9.8m/s2
ground, how high is the cliff knowns. the unknowns,
and how far did the cannon dx= ? dy= ?
the correct equation and
ball travel from the base of dx = vsolve. (Solve
xt = 100 dy==viythe
(12) t+1/2at2
the cliff? acceleration
dx = 1200 m problems.)
dy= ½(-9.8)(12)2
dy= -705.6 m
 Airplane Drop

If a package is dropped from an airplane

flying with a horizontal speed of 115 m/s
at an altitude of 1050 m where will the
package land?

a. Behind the plane

b. Under the plane
c. In front of the plane
Airplane Drop
 Hippo Drop

From a height of 784 m a

hippo falls from an
airplane flying horizontally
at 30 m/s. Oh no! His
chute is too small and he Horizontal Motion Vertical Motion
falls like he isn’t even vx= 30 m/s viy= 0 m/s
wearing one. What t= ? t= ?
a= -9.8 m/s2
horizontal distance does dx= ? dy= -784 m
he travel before striking dy=viyt+1/2at2
the ground? dx = vxt = 30(12.65) 2d 2(784)
t 
a ( 9.8)
dx = 379.5 m
t = 12.65 s
 Bullseye or Not

• An arrow is fired directly at a bull’s eye of

a target that is 60 m away. The arrow has
a horizontal speed of 89 m/s. When the
arrow is fired, it is exactly 1 m above the
ground. It was a lousy shot and a miss.
How far short of the target was it?
 Challenge Shot

• From the top of a tall building, a gun is fired. The bullet

leaves the gun at a speed of 343 m/s, parallel to the
ground. The bullet puts a hole in a window of another
window and hit the wall that faces the window.
Determine the distances D and H from the picture.
Assume the bullet does not slow down as it passes
through the window.
 Daredevil

A motorcycle is traveling horizontally at take-off. In

flight it follows a projectile path, so we can treat
its vertical and horizontal motions separately. To
reach the landing-zone the bike must travel
48 m horizontally in the same time as it travels
19.62 m vertically. What speed must it be
traveling at initially to land in the center of the
landing zone.

Action Button
 Vertically Launched Projectile

If a ball is launched vertically off the back of

a moving pickup truck where will it land?
• A. behind the truck
• B. in the bed of the truck
• C. in front of the truck.
 Projectiles
• Projectiles follow a parabolic path because of the
force of gravity
• According to Newton’s 1st law: An object in motion will
stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force
• However, gravity acts upon the projectile and causes
the velocity of the y axis to become negative after
arriving at the maximum height, resulting in the
projectile moving downwards
• When the projectile hits the ground, friction is what
causes the halt of the object in terms of the x axis
• What determines the displacement of the x value is
the time that the projectile is in the air
 Projectiles Launched at an Angle

Types
• A projectile launched off a cliff at an angle
and then falls to some point below the cliff

• A projectile launched from ground level

and return to ground level.
 Projectiles Launched at an Angle

• If a cannonball shot at an upward angle

with no gravity, the ball would not fall
toward earth, but would rather follow a
straight line shown by the dashed line.
• With gravity the ball continually falls
beneath the imaginary dashed line until it
strikes the ground.
 Projectiles Launched at an Angle

• Initial vertical velocity is not zero. (viy ≠ 0)

• Given only the resultant velocity of the
projectile and the angle at which it was
launched.
• This resultant velocity must be broken into
its horizontal and vertical components.
 Velocity Components

Copyright© 2007 Pearson Prentice Hall, Inc.

• Horizontal velocity (vx): vx = vi cos θ

• Vertical velocity (viy): viy = vi sin θ
Projectiles Launched at an Angle

Notice:
1. The horizontal
component (vx) of
the velocity is the
same everywhere!
2. The vertical
component (vy) of
the velocity is the
same as if it had
been thrown
upwards with vi =
Projectiles Launched at an Angle

• As it rises, its
velocity decreases
with time due to
gravity. At its
highest point, its vy
= 0.
• As it falls from its
highest point vy
increases as it
travels with gravity.
 Components

Remember, for vertical vf = vi + at

components the d = ½ (vf + vi)t
constant
acceleration d = vit + ½ at2
equations can be vf2 = vi2 + 2ad
used.
For horizontal
components we use
vx =dx/t
the constant velocity
equation.
 Projectiles Launched at an Angle

Note: Principle of independent velocities still

holds
REMEMBER!!!
 For dy and vy downward is negative
 Vi can be resolved into the components: vx
and vy v iy

60°
vix
Vy = Visinθ Vy decreases due to
The total displacement of the projectile is called the range
gravity
 Projectile Problem

A cannonball is shot upwards at a 60° angle to the

ground and has an initial velocity of 200 m/s.
(a) What are the horizontal and vertical
components of its velocity?
(b) How long was the cannonball in the air?
(c) How far did the cannonball go?
(d) How high was the cannon ball after 4
seconds had passed?
 Projectile Problem

A cannonball is shot upwards at a 60° angle to the

ground and has an initial velocity of 200 m/s.
(a) What are the horizontal and vertical
components of its velocity?
vi = 200 m/s Horizontal Vertical
vx = vicosθ viy = visinθ
/s

vx = 200cos(60) viy = 200sin(60)

0m
20

vvoyx = 100 m/s viy = 173 m/s

=
o
V

60°
vx
 Projectile Problem
A cannonball is shot upwards at a 60° angle to the
ground and has an initial velocity of 200 m/s.
(b) How long was the cannonball in the air?
Horizontal Vertical
vx = 100m/s viy = 173 m/s
/s

t=? t=? a=
m0
20

-9.8 m/s2 viy

=
o

vfy = 0 m/s at top of path

V

60°
vfy = vyi + at
vx 0  173
v fy  v oy
t 
a  9.8
t = 17.65 s (time to top of path)
t = 2(17.65) = 35.3 s
 Projectile Problem
A cannonball is shot upwards at a 60° angle to the
ground and has an initial velocity of 200 m/s.
(c) How far did the cannonball go?
Horizontal Vertical
vxi = 100m/s vyi = 173 m/s
/s

t = 35.3 s t = 35.3 s
m0
20

dviyx = ? a = -9.8 m/s2

=
o
V

60° dx = vxt
vix dx = 100 (35.3)
dx = 3530 m
 Projectile Problem
A cannonball is shot upwards at a 60° angle to the ground and
has an initial velocity of 200 m/s.
(d) How high was the cannon ball after 4 seconds had
passed?
Horizontal Vertical
vxi = 100m/s vyi = 173 m/s
/s

t=4s
m0
20

viy a = -9.8 m/s2

=

dy = ?
o
V

60° dy = vyit+1/2at2
vix dy = 173 (4) + ½(-9.8)(4)2
dy = 614 m
 Projectile Problem

A football punter kicks the ball with an initial

velocity of 30m/s at an angle of 45°
a. What is the range of the kick?
b. What is the max height of the kick?
c. What is the hangtime of the kick?
 Stuntman
John a motorcross rider decides to demonstrate
his skill by jumping school buses. If he sets
up a launching and landing ramp at 18° and
the height of the school bus and launches
himself at an initial velocity of 33.5 m/s how
many whole school buses could he clear if
each bus is 2.74 m wide?
 Slugger
Recently, at Turner Field you caught a Chipper
Jones homerun. Always having physics on you
mind, you calculated the velocity it hit your glove
at 36 m/s and an angle of 28°. Your glove was
7.5 m above the height Chipper hit the ball.
What was the initial velocity that Chipper hit the
ball (magnitude and direction)?
 Angle vs. Range

Which launch angle will result in the greatest

range?
A. 30°
B. 45°
C. 60°
Which angle went the highest?

Which angle had the most

hang time?
 Angle vs. Range

• The diagram shows that the

projectiles reach different
altitudes or heights above
the ground and also have
different ranges.

What two angles result in the

same range?
• If we add these two angles
up they total 90°.
• These are called
complimentary angles
 White Board Challenge

• A battleship simultaneously fires two shells

toward two enemy ships, one close by (A), one
far away (B). The shells leave the battleship at
different angles and travel along the parabolic
trajectories indicate below. Which of the two
enemy ships get hit first? Explain.
 Monkeying Around
If a monkey hunter was aiming at a monkey
in a tree and the monkey lets go the
instant the hunter fires. Where should the
hunter aim?
A. directly above the monkey
B. directly at the monkey
C. directly below the monkey
 Monkeying Around
If a monkey hunter was aiming at a monkey
in a tree and the monkey lets go the
instant the hunter fires. Where should the
hunter aim?
A. directly above the monkey
B. directly at the monkey
C. directly below the monkey
 Monkeying Around
What if a monkey hunter was now aiming at
a monkey in a tree and the monkey lets go
the instant the hunter fires but this time
with a much slower gun. Where should
the hunter aim?
A. directly above the monkey
B. directly at the monkey
C. directly below the monkey
 Range

• The horizontal distance a projectile travels before

returning to its original height.
• Range can be determined when the angle () and
initial velocity (vi) are known:
2
v i
sin( 2 )
R
g
• “g” is acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s2 (on earth)
• vi is the velocity at the angle (θ) given.
 Max Height

• Solving for the height (H) when vfy = 0

results in the following equation:
 vi sin   2

H  d y max 
2g
• Where H =dymax = max height
vi = initial velocity
θ = angle of launch
• For the height at any time
dy = vi sinθ t – ½ gt2 or dy = vyt – ½ gt2
 Total Time of Flight

Solving for the time at the maximum height

and then doubling it, yields this
relationship for total time (T) of flight:
2v i sin  2v yi
T  or
g g
 Understanding Check
• At the instant a HORIZONTALLY held rifle is fired over
ground level, a bullet held at the side of the rifle is
released and drops to the ground. Which bullet hits the
ground first?

• At the instant a rifle HELD AT AN UPWARD ANGLE is

fired over ground, a bullet held at the side of the rifle is
released and drops to the ground. Which bullet hits the
ground first?

• A projectile is launched at an angle into the air. What is

the acceleration of its vertical components of motion? Of
its horizontal component?

• At what part of its trajectory does a projectile have

minimum speed? EXPLAIN!!!!
 Effect of Air Resistance

v0=44.7 m/s Path I (Air) Path II

θ = 60° (Vacuum)
Range 98.5 m 177 m
Max Height 53.0 m 76.8 m
Time of Flight 6.6 s 7.9 s
 Effect of Air Resistance

Key Differences:
Path is no longer parabolic
The maximum height and range are less than
without air resistance
The angle at which the projectile impacts the
ground is steeper.