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Projectile Motion

1. Projectile motion involves two independent motions - horizontal motion with constant velocity and vertical motion with constant downward acceleration due to gravity. 2. The path of a projectile launched with an initial velocity at an angle follows a parabolic trajectory. 3. Key equations describe the projectile's position, time, and maximum height based on the initial velocity and launch angle.

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Ammar Ibrahim
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289 views

Projectile Motion

1. Projectile motion involves two independent motions - horizontal motion with constant velocity and vertical motion with constant downward acceleration due to gravity. 2. The path of a projectile launched with an initial velocity at an angle follows a parabolic trajectory. 3. Key equations describe the projectile's position, time, and maximum height based on the initial velocity and launch angle.

Uploaded by

Ammar Ibrahim
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Projectile Motion

Introduction:
The projectile is any object thrown into space upon which the only acting force is gravity. In
other words, the primary force acting on a projectile is gravity. This doesn’t necessarily mean
that the other forces do not act on it, just that their effect is minimal compared to gravity. The
path followed by a projectile is known as a trajectory. A baseball batted or thrown and the instant
the bullet exits the barrel of a gun are all examples of the projectile.
When a particle is thrown obliquely near the earth’s surface, it moves along a curved path under
constant acceleration that is directed towards the center of the earth (we assume that the particle
remains close to the surface of the earth). The path of such a particle is called a projectile and the
motion is called projectile motion. Air resistance to the motion of the body is to be assumed
absent in projectile motion.
In a Projectile Motion, there are two simultaneous independent rectilinear motions:
Along the x-axis: uniform velocity, responsible for the horizontal (forward) motion of the
particle.
Along y-axis: uniform acceleration, responsible for the vertical (downwards) motion of the
particle.
Accelerations in the horizontal projectile motion and vertical projectile motion of a particle:
When a particle is projected in the air with some speed, the only force acting on it during its time
in the air is the acceleration due to gravity (g). This acceleration acts vertically downward. There
is no acceleration in the horizontal direction, which means that the velocity of the particle in the
horizontal direction remains constant.

Examples:
Explanation:
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.

Point of projection
Point of projection:
The point from which the object is projected in air is called as point of projection.

Velocity of projection:
The velocity with which an object is projected is known as velocity of projection.

Analysis of Projectile Motion:

Quantity Value

vx = v0 cosθ0

Components of velocity at time t


vy = v0 sinθ0–gt

x = (v0 cosθ0)t

Position at time t y = (v0 sinθ0)t – 1/2 gt2

Equation of path of projectile motion y = (tan θ0)x – gx2/2(v0cosθ0)2

Time of maximum height tm = v0 sinθ0 /g

Time of flight 2tm = 2(v0 sinθ0/g)

Maximum height of projectile hm = (v0 sinθ0)2/2g

Horizontal range of projectile R = v02 sin 2θ0/g

Maximum horizontal range ( θ0 = 45° ) Rm = v02/g

If any object is thrown with the velocity u, making an angle Θ from horizontal, then the horizontal
component of initial velocity = u cos Θ and the vertical component of initial velocity = u sin Θ. The
horizontal component of velocity (u cos Θ) remains the same during the whole journey as herein, no
acceleration is acting horizontally.
The vertical component of velocity (u sin Θ) gradually decrease and at the highest point of the path
becomes 0. The velocity of the body at the highest point is u cos Θ in the horizontal direction.
However, the angle between the velocity and acceleration is 90 degree.

RANGE OF A PROJECTILE MOTION

The horizontal distance travelled by a projectile from its initial position (x=y=0) to the position
where it passes y=0 during its fall is called the horizontal range, R. It is the distance travelled during
the time of flight Tf. therefore, the range R is
R=(vocosθo)(Tf)=(vocosθo)(2vosinθo)/g ......(1)
Or, R=gvo2sin2θo ......(2)
Equation 2 shows that for a given projectile velocity vo, R is maximum when sin2θ is maximum,
i.e. when θ=45.
The maximum horizontal range is, therefore

MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF A PROJECTILE


Hence:

TIME OF FLIGHT OF A PROJECTILE


Let, time taken to reach maximum height =tm
Now, vx=vocosθo
and vy=vosinθo−gt
Since, at this point, vy=0, we have:
vosinθo−gtm=0
Or, tm=(vosinθo)/g

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