KINEMATICS

Kinematics is the study of motion of objects without referring to what causes the motion. Motion
is a change in position of an object in a time interval. Under this topic, we shall examine some
properties of motion that is restricted in three ways:

 The motion is along a straight line only. The line may be vertical, horizontal, or slanted, but it
must be straight.
 Forces-(pushes and pulls) -cause motion will not be discussed. Only the motion and changes
in motion will be discussed. Does the moving object speed up, slow down, stop, or reverse
direction? If the motion does change, how is time involved in the change?
 The moving object is either a particle (by which we mean a point-like object such as an
electron) or an object that moves like a particle (such that every portion moves in the same
direction and at the same rate).

Position and Displacement

To locate an object means to find its position relative to some reference point, often the origin
(or zero point). Let the position 𝑃1 of a particle relative to the origin is 𝑥1 , if the particle changes
position to 𝑃2 at point 𝑥2 , then the displacement of the particle during the time interval 𝑡1 and
𝑡2 is the vector from 𝑃1 to 𝑃2 and is the change in the coordinate of x and is given as:

𝑥
𝑥1 ∆𝑥 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
𝑥2

Displacement = ∆𝑥 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
The term “displacement” is given to the distant moved by an object in a specific or constant
direction. It is a vector quantity measured in meters (m).

Average, Instantaneous, Uniform and Relative velocities

The average velocity (𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 ) is the ratio of the displacement (∆𝑥) that occurs during a particular
time interval ∆𝑡 i.e.
∆𝑥 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 = =
∆𝑡 𝑡2 − 𝑡1
where 𝑡1 and 𝑡2 are the time when the particle is at positions 𝑥1 and 𝑥2 respectively. The SI unit
of velocity is meter per second (m/s), however, it can also be expressed in kilometer per hour
(km/h). By calculation, 36 km/h = 10 m/s.
The average velocity of particle during a time interval cannot tell us how fast, or in what direction,
the particle was moving at any given time during the interval. To describe the motion, we need
to define the velocity at any specific instant of time or specific point along the path. Such velocity
is called instantaneous velocity. The instantaneous velocity (simply velocity) is the rate of change
of displacement and is obtained by taking the limit of the average velocity as the time interval
approaches zero i.e.
∆𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑣 = lim =
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡
If a particle moving in a straight line travels equal distances in equal times, no matter how small
these distances may be, the particle is said to be moving with a constant or uniform or constant
velocity. A falling stone increases in velocity, so this is a non-uniform velocity.

Relative Velocity
When two observers measure the velocity of a moving body, they get different results if one
observer is moving relative other. The velocity seen by an observer is called the velocity relative
to that observer, or simply relative velocity.
The velocity of an object A with relative to an observer is termed relative velocity.

Example
A driver normally drives on the freeway between Lagos and Oyo at average speed of 90 km/h,
and the trip takes 2 h 10 min. On a rainy day, the driver decided to slow down and drive the same
distance at an average speed of 80 km/h. How much longer does the trip take?

Solution
The distance between Lagos and Oyo is
𝐷 = vavg. ×Time

= 9 km/h × 2.17 h
= 195.3 km
Time taken for the driver to travel from Lagos to Oyo on a rainy day is
𝐷 195.3 km
Time= = = 2.44 h=2 h 26 min.
vavg. on 𝑟ainy day 8 km/h

The difference in time is 2 h 26 min. − 2 h 1 min. = 16 min.

Example
A car travels in a straight line along a road. Its distance x from a stop sign is given as a function of
time t by the equation 𝑥 = 𝛼𝑡 2 𝛽𝑡 3 , where 𝛼 = 1.5 𝑚/𝑠 2 and 𝛽 = .25 𝑚/𝑠 3 . Calculate the
average velocity of the car for the time interval 𝑡 = to 𝑡 = 2𝑠.

Solution
Given that 𝑥 = 𝛼𝑡 2 𝛽𝑡 3 , the position of the car at 𝑡 = is 𝑚.
The position of the car at 𝑡 = 2𝑠 is

𝑥 = 𝛼𝑡 2 𝛽𝑡 3 = 1.5 (2)2 .25(2)3

=6 2= 8𝑚
The average speed is
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 8 −
= = = 4𝑚/𝑠
𝑡2 − 𝑡1 2 −

Example
A car is stopped at a traffic light. It then travels along a straight road so that its distance from the
light is given by 𝑥 = 𝑏𝑡 2 𝑐𝑡 3 , where 𝑏 = 1.4 𝑚/𝑠 2 and 𝑐 = .15 𝑚/𝑠 3 . Calculate the
instantaneous velocity of the car at (a) 𝑡 = (b) 𝑡 = 5𝑠 (c) 𝑡 = 1 𝑠.

Solution
Given 𝑥 = 𝑏𝑡 2 𝑐𝑡 3
The general expression for the instantaneous velocity is
𝑑𝑥
= 2𝑏𝑡 3𝑐𝑡 2
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑥
At 𝑡 = = 2𝑏𝑡 3𝑐𝑡 2 =
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑥
At 𝑡 = 5 𝑠: = 2𝑏𝑡 3𝑐𝑡 2 = (2)( 1.4 )(5) (3)( .15)(5)2 = 14 11.25 = 25.25𝑚/𝑠
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑥
At 𝑡 = 1 𝑠: = 2𝑏𝑡 3𝑐𝑡 2 = (2)( 1.4 )(1 ) (3)( .15)(1 )2 = 28 45 = 73𝑚/𝑠
𝑑𝑡

Acceleration
When a particle velocity changes, the particle is said to undergo acceleration (or to accelerate).
For motion along an axis, the average acceleration (𝑎avg. ) over a time interval ∆𝑡 is
∆𝑣 𝑣2 − 𝑣1
𝑎𝑎𝑣𝑔 = =
∆𝑡 𝑡2 − 𝑡1
where the particle has velocity 𝑣1 at time 𝑡1 and then velocity 𝑣2 at time 𝑡2 . The instantaneous
acceleration (or simply acceleration) is
𝑑𝑣
𝑎=
𝑑𝑡
In other words, the acceleration of a particle at any instant is the rate at which its velocity is
changing at that instant. Graphically, the acceleration at any point is the slope of the curve of v(t)
at that point. Therefore, we can write:
 𝑑𝑣 𝑑 𝑑𝑥 𝑑2𝑥
𝑎= = ( )= 2
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
In words, the acceleration of a particle at any instant is the second derivative of the position x(t)
with respect to time.
A common unit of acceleration is the meter per second per second: m/(s-s) or m/s2. Acceleration
has both magnitude and direction (i.e. it is a vector quantity). Its algebraic sign represents its
direction on an axis just as for displacement and velocity: I.e. acceleration with a positive value
is in positive direction of an axis, and acceleration with a negative value is in negative direction.

Motion with constant or Uniform Acceleration

The simplest accelerated motion is straight line motion with constant acceleration. In this case
the velocity changes at the same rate throughout the motion. This is a very special situation, yet
one that occurs often in nature. For example, a freely falling body has a constant acceleration if
the effects of air can be neglected. The same is true for a body sliding on an incline or a rough
horizontal surface.
When the acceleration is constant, it is easy to derive equation for the position x and velocity v
as a functions of time. The average acceleration (𝑎avg. ) of a particle over a time interval ∆𝑡 is
defined as:
∆𝑣 𝑣2 − 𝑣1
𝑎𝑎𝑣𝑔 = =
∆𝑡 𝑡2 − 𝑡1
We can replace the average acceleration 𝑎avg. by the constant (instantaneous) acceleration 𝑎.
We have:
𝑣2 − 𝑣1
𝑎=
𝑡2 − 𝑡1
Let 𝑡1 = and 𝑡2 be any arbitrary later time 𝑡. If 𝑢 represent the velocity at the initial time 𝑡1 =
: the velocity at the later time 𝑡 is 𝑣, then
𝑣−𝑢
𝑎=
𝑡−
𝑣=𝑢 𝑎𝑡 (1)
This mean that the velocity 𝑣 at any instant 𝑡 is equal to the initial velocity 𝑢 (at 𝑡 = ) plus the
change in velocity 𝑎𝑡. This can be shown graphically in the figure below:
 𝑣

𝑎𝑡
𝑢 𝑣
𝑢
𝑡
𝑡

To derive the equation for position 𝑥 of a particle moving with constant acceleration, we make
use of two different expressions for the average velocity 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 during the time interval 𝑡 = to
any later time 𝑡. Thus, for the time interval ∆𝑡 = 𝑡 − and the corresponding displacement ∆𝑥 =
𝑥 − 𝑥0 , the average velocity is
𝑥 − 𝑥0
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 =
𝑡
where 𝑥0 is the position of the particle at 𝑡 = and 𝑥 is the position at the later time 𝑡. The
second expression of the average velocity 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 is valid only when the acceleration is constant, so
that 𝑣 − 𝑡 graph is a straight line and the velocity change at a constant rate. In this case, the
average velocity 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 during any interval is simply the arithmetic average of the velocities at the
beginning and end of the interval. For the time interval to 𝑡.
𝑢 𝑣
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 =
2
Note: The above equation is not true if the acceleration varies and the 𝑣 − 𝑡 graph is a curve.
Since
𝑣=𝑢 𝑎𝑡
Then
𝑢 𝑣 𝑢 𝑢 𝑎𝑡
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 = =
2 2
1
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 𝑢 𝑎𝑡
2
Also,
𝑥 − 𝑥0
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 =
𝑡
Therefore,
𝑥 − 𝑥0 1
= 𝑢 𝑎𝑡
𝑡 2
 1 2
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑡
2
Where 𝑥 − 𝑥0 is the displacement 𝑆. Therefore,
1
𝑆 = 𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑡 2 (2)
2

The above equation indicates that the displacement of the particle between 𝑡 = and any later
time 𝑡 is equal to the distance 𝑢𝑡 that the particle will travel if its velocity were constant, plus an
additional distance 𝑎𝑡 2 ⁄2 caused by the change in velocity. The distance travelled by the particle
is equal to the area under the 𝑣 − 𝑡 graph between those two time i.e. to 𝑡 in this case.

𝑎𝑡
𝑢 𝑣
𝑢
𝑡
𝑡

Area of the rectangle is 𝑢𝑡

1
Area of the triangle is 2 𝑎𝑡 2
1
Total area is 𝑆 = 𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑡 2
2

In many problem, its’s useful to have a relationship between position, velocity and acceleration
that does not involve the time. To obtain this, we solve for t in the expression:
𝑣=𝑢 𝑎𝑡
𝑣−𝑢
𝑡=
𝑎
Substitute for t in the equation
1 2
𝑆 = 𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑡
2
𝑣−𝑢 1 𝑣−𝑢 2
𝑆 = 𝑢( ) 𝑎( )
𝑎 2 𝑎
Simplifying the equation gives
𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 2𝑎𝑆 (3)
Equations (1), (2) and (3) are the equations of motions with constants acceleration. By using these
equations, we can solve any kinematics problem involving straight-line motion of a particle with
constant acceleration.

Example
A cyclist heading east through a small village accelerates after he passes the signpost marking the
village limit as shown in the diagram below. His acceleration is a constant 4𝑚/𝑠 2 . At time 𝑡 = ,
he is 5. 𝑚 east of the signpost, moving at a velocity of 15𝑚/𝑠. (a) Find his position and velocity
at time 𝑡 = 2. 𝑠. (b) Where is the cyclist when is velocity is 25𝑚/𝑠.
𝑥0 𝑥1
𝑡= 𝑡 = 2𝑠
T 𝑢 = 15𝑚/𝑠 𝑣=

𝑎 = 4𝑚/𝑠 2 𝑠

5𝑚
𝑥1

Solution
The displacement of the motorcyclist at time 𝑡 = 2. 𝑠 can be obtained using the equation
1 2
𝑆 = 𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑡
2
= 15 × 2 1⁄2 × 4 × 22
=3 8
= 38𝑚
Therefore the position of the motorcyclist is 43𝑚 i.e. (38 5) east of the signpost. The velocity
of the motorcyclist at 𝑡 = 2. 𝑠 can be obtained using the equation:

𝑣=𝑢 𝑎𝑡
= 15 4×2
= 23𝑚/𝑠
To determine the position of the motorcyclist when he accelerates to 25𝑚/𝑠. This can be
obtained using the equation:

𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 2𝑎𝑆
𝑣 2 − 𝑢2
𝑆=
2𝑎
252 − 152
= =5 𝑚
2×4
Therefore, the position of the motorcyclist when its velocity is 25𝑚/𝑠 is 55𝑚 east of the signpost
i.e. (5 𝑚 5𝑚)

Freely falling bodies

The most familiar example of motion with (nearly) constant acceleration is that of a body falling
under the influence of the earth’s gravitational attraction. In 4 th century B.C., Aristotle thought
(erroneously) that heavy objects fall faster than light objects, in proportion to their weight.
Nineteen centuries later, Galileo argued that a body should fall with a downward acceleration
that is constant and independent of its weight. He demonstrated this by dropping bullets and
cannonballs from the Learning Tower of Pisa.
When the effects of the air can be neglected, all bodies at a particular location fall with the same
downward acceleration., regardless of their size or weight. If the distance of the fall is small
compared to the radius of the earth, the acceleration is constant. The constant acceleration of a
freely falling body is called the acceleration due to gravity, and its magnitude is denoted by letter
𝑔. At or near the earth’s surface the value of 𝑔 is approximately 9.8𝑚/𝑠 2 . The exact value varies
with location. On the surface of the moon, the acceleration due to gravity is caused by the
attractive force of the moon rather than the earth, and 𝑔 = 1.6𝑚/𝑠 2 . Near the surface of the
sun, 𝑔 = 27 𝑚/𝑠 2 .

Projectile Motion
A projectile is anybody that has an initial velocity and then follows a path determined entirely by
the effects of gravitational acceleration and air resistance. The path followed by a projectile is
called its trajectory.
Consider a ball thrown up at point 𝑂 with a velocity 𝑣 at an angle 𝜃 to the horizontal as shown in
the diagram below. We consider the vertical and horizontal motion separately in motion of this
kind.
The vertical component of the velocity is 𝑣𝑜𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

The vertical component of the velocity is 𝑣𝑜𝑥 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

Horizontal acceleration 𝑎𝑥 = since the ball moves at constant horizontal velocity.
Vertical acceleration 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔 for a free fall particle.

From the equation of motion in a straight line

1 2
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑡
2
For vertical motion
1
𝑦 = 𝑦0 𝑣𝑜𝑦 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2
2
Where 𝑦 and 𝑦0 are the vertical height at the landing and launching points respectively. In this
case, 𝑦 = 𝑦0 = and 𝑣𝑜𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃, therefore:
1
= 𝑣𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2
2
𝒕
𝒗𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽
𝑻=𝒕=
𝒈
where T is the time of flight.
Again, from the equation of motion in a straight line
1 2
𝑥 − 𝑥0 = 𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑡
2
For horizontal motion, 𝑥 = 𝑅 (the landing position), 𝑥0 = (the launching point), 𝑢 = 𝑣𝑜𝑥 =
𝑣𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 and 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑥 = (for horizontal motion, 𝑔 acts vertically and has no components in a
horizontal direction). Therefore, we have

𝑅− = 𝑣𝑜𝑥 𝑡
𝑅 = 𝑣𝑜𝑥 𝑡
𝑅 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
Since
2𝑣𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑡=
𝑔
 2𝑣𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑅 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 ×
𝑔
2𝑣𝑜2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑅=
𝑔
From trigonometry, 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃, therefore

𝒗𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽
𝑹=
𝒈
0
The maximum range is obtained when 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃 = 1, or 2𝜃 = 9 . So 𝜃 = 450 for maximum range
with a given velocity of launch 𝑣𝑜 . In this case, the range is

𝑣𝑜2
𝑅=
𝑔
From the first equation of motion in a straight line,
𝑣=𝑢 𝑎𝑡
At maximum height H (vertical direction), 𝑢 = 𝑣𝑜𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃, 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑦 = (at maximum height),
𝑎 = 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔. Therefore, we have

𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜𝑦 − 𝑔𝑡

= 𝑣𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝑔𝑡
𝒗𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽
𝒕=
𝒈
From this expression above, we can see that this is half the time to reach the landing point.
To determine the maximum height reached, we consider the third equation of motion:

𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 2𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 )
Where 𝑥 and 𝑥𝑜 is the initial and final position of the object. In this case 𝑥 = 𝐻 (maximum height)
𝑥𝑜 = (the launching position), 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑦 = , 𝑢 = 𝑣𝑜𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 and 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔. Therefore,
we have

𝑣𝑦2 = 𝑣𝑜𝑦
2
2𝑎𝑦 (𝐻 − 𝑥𝑜 )

= (𝑣𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃)2 − 2𝑔(𝐻 − )

𝒗𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽
𝑯=
𝒈
The derived equations are valid for a symmetric projection.
Projection from a height
For an object projected from a height h above the ground as shown in the diagram below, the
maximum height above the ground is

𝐻′ = ℎ 𝑏
𝑣𝑜2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
𝐻′ = ℎ
2𝑔
The time of flight is equal to the time to travel from the point of launch to the maximum height
(𝑡1 ) and from the maximum height to the ground (𝑡2 ).
𝑣𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑡1 =
𝑔
The time to travel from the maximum height to the ground (𝑡2 ) can be obtained using the
expression:
1 2
𝑆 = 𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑡
2
Here 𝑆 = ℎ 𝑏, 𝑣𝑦 = , 𝑎 = 𝑔
1 2
ℎ 𝑏= 𝑔𝑡
2 2

2(ℎ 𝑏)
𝑡2 = √
𝑔

Therefore, the time of flight T is

𝑇 ′ = 𝑡1 𝑡2

𝑣𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 2(ℎ 𝑏)
𝑇′ = √
𝑔 𝑔

The horizontal range is therefore

𝑆 = 𝑢𝑡 (since horizontal acceleration 𝑎𝑥 = )
Here 𝑢 = 𝑣𝑜𝑥 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 and 𝑡 = 𝑇 ′ , and 𝑆 = 𝑅. Therefore 𝑅 is,

𝑅 = 𝑇 ′ 𝑣𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

𝑣𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 2(ℎ 𝑏)
𝑅 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 [ √ ]
𝑔 𝑔
 𝒗𝒐

Horizontal projection from a height

For a projection from a height at an angle to the horizontal shown below:
𝒗𝒐

From the second equation of motion:

1 2
𝑆 = 𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑡
2
Here 𝑆 = ℎ, 𝑎 = 𝑔 and the projectile initial vertical velocity is 𝑢 = . Therefore, we have
1
ℎ = 𝑔𝑡 2
2

2ℎ
𝑡=√
𝑔
1
The range 𝑅 can be obtained from 𝑆 = 𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑡 2 . In this case the 𝑎𝑥 = and 𝑆 = 𝑅.
2

2ℎ
𝑅 = 𝑢𝑡 = 𝑢√
𝑔
Example
0
A projectile is fired from the ground level with a velocity of 400m/s at angle of 6 to the
horizontal, calculate:
(a) The time taken to reach the maximum height
(b) The maximum height reached
(c) The velocity of the projectile after 3s.
(d) The range

Solution
𝑢 = 4 𝑚/𝑠; 𝜃 = 6 0 .
(a) The time taken to reach the maximum height is
𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 4 𝑠𝑖𝑛6 0
𝑡= = = 34.6𝑠
𝑔 1
(b) The maximum height reached by the projectile is
𝑢2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
𝐻=
2𝑔

2
4𝑠𝑖𝑛2 6 0
𝐻= =6 𝑚
2×1
(c) Using 𝑣 = 𝑢 − 𝑔𝑡 = 4 − (1 × 3) = 37 𝑚/𝑠
(d) The range is
𝑢2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃 4 2
sin(2 × 6 0
)
𝑅= = = 13256.4𝑚
𝑔 1
Example
0
An object is projected from a height 1 𝑚 above the ground at an angle of 3 to the horizontal
with a velocity of 1 𝑚/𝑠. Calculate:
(a) The maximum height reached above the ground
(b) The time taken to reach this height
(c) Time of flight
(d) Horizontal range
 /𝒔

Solution
(a) The maximum height reached above the ground

𝑢2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 1 2
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 3 0
𝐻=1 =1 = 225𝑚
2𝑔 2×1
(b) The time taken to reach the maximum height is
0
𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 1 𝑠𝑖𝑛3
𝑡= = = 5𝑠
𝑔 1
(c) The time of flight T can be obtained as:
𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 2(ℎ 𝑏)
𝑇= √
𝑔 𝑔

𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 2𝐻
𝑇= √
𝑔 𝑔
0
1 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 2 × 225
𝑇= √ = 11.7𝑠
1 1
(d) The range R can be obtained as:
0
𝑅 = 𝑣𝑥 × 𝑇 = 1 𝑐𝑜𝑠3 × 11.7 = 1, 13𝑚

Example
A ball is thrown forward horizontally from the top of a cliff with a velocity of 10m/s. the height
of the cliff above the ground is 45m. Calculate (i) the time to reach the ground (ii) the distance
from the cliff of the ball on hitting the ground (iii) the direction of the ball to the horizontal just
before it hits the ground.

Solution
(a) The time to reach the ground is
 2ℎ 2 × 45
𝑡=√ =√ = 3𝑠
𝑔 1
(b) the distance from the cliff of the ball on hitting the ground
𝑅 = 𝑢𝑡 = 1 × 3 = 3 𝑚
(c) The direction of the ball to the horizontal just before it hits the ground is
ℎ
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
𝑅
45
= 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
3
0
= 56.3