Question: Explain what is projectile motion?

Also derive the expressions for:

a. Maximum height b. Time of flight c. Range of projectile
d. Maximum range. e. Time to reach maximum height

Projectile Motion
A two dimensional motion under the constant acceleration
due to gravity and inertia is called projectile motion.

Projectile Trajectory
The path followed by a projectile is called projectile
trajectory and the object executing projectile motion is
called a projectile.
Example:
Motion of a football kicked off by a player, a ball thrown by a cricketer and a
missile fired from a launching pad are the examples of projectile motion.

Explanation
Consider a ball projected in a direction angle with the horizontal with initial
velocity . The motion of a projectile can be studied easily by resolving it into
horizontal and vertical components which are independents of each other.
Horizontal component of initial velocity
Vertical component of initial velocity

𝑣𝑖𝑥
For Your Information
𝑣𝑖𝑥 During the projectile motion followings
remains unchanged:
 Horizontal velocity 𝑣𝑖 𝜃
 Horizontal acceleration 𝑎𝑥 0
𝑣𝑖𝑦  Veridical acceleration g
𝑎𝑦 g↓
𝜃 𝑣𝑖𝑥
𝑣𝑖𝑥
𝑎𝑥 0
𝑣𝑖𝑥 = uniform 𝑣𝑖𝑦

Horizontal motion
Ignoring the air friction, there is no force action on the ball in the horizontal
direction. Then according to Newton's first law, there will be no acceleration in
horizontal direction and hence the horizontal velocity remains constant.

Vertical motion
In this case the initial vertical velocity component is upward. As the ball moves up
its vertical velocity component decreases with acceleration “-g” due to downward
gravitational force. At top this vertical velocity component becomes zero then the
ball starts falling with increasing velocity.
Initial vertical velocity
Acceleration g
Maximum Height
The maximum vertical distance covered by the projectile during its flight is called
maximum height. To find the maximum height we consider the vertical component
of velocity only.
Vertical initial velocity
Vertical acceleration g 𝑣𝑓𝑦 0
Vertical final velocity 0
Maximum height
Third equation of motion:
𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑣𝑖𝑦
g 0
g 𝜃
𝑣𝑖𝑥
g
Time of Flight
The time taken by a projectile to cover the distance from the place of its projection
to the place where it hits the ground at the same level is called the time of flight.
The expression for time of flight can be determined by considering the vertical
component of velocity only.
Vertical initial velocity
Vertical acceleration g Time of Flight
Vertical distance covered 0 𝑣𝑖 𝜃
Time to reach maximum height
Time of flight T
𝑣𝑖 𝜃
Second equation of motion: Time to come back to initial height
0 g Time of flight T= t + t
𝑣 𝜃 𝑣𝑖 𝜃
g T= 𝑖
𝑣𝑖 𝜃
T=
g

Range of the Projectile For Your Information

Maximum distance which a projectile covers in the horizontal direction is called the 𝜃 𝜃 𝜃
range of the projectile. To determine the range R of the projectile, we consider the 𝜃 0𝑜 𝜃
𝑜
horizontal component of velocity. 𝜃 0 𝜃
𝑜 𝑜
Horizontal component of velocity
Time to reach the final point
Range of the projectile For your Information
Range of projectile is the maximum at 45o.
Range of projectile is same for pair of angles
whose sum is zero.
g 10o & 80o, 25o & 65o, 30o & 60o etc

g
Maximum Range of projectile

g
For the range R to be maximum, should have maximum value which is 1.

Then maximum range of the projectile will be:

0
g g

g
Time to Reach Maximum Height
The time taken by a projectile to reach its maximum height during its flight can be 𝑣𝑓𝑦 0
determined by considering the vertical component of velocity only.
Vertical initial velocity
Vertical acceleration g
Vertical final velocity 0 h (max)
Time to reach maximum height 𝑣𝑖𝑦
First equation of motion:
𝜃
𝑣𝑖𝑥
0 g
g