Projectile motion

Specification
Independent effect of motion in horizontal and vertical directions of a uniform gravitational
field.
Problems will be solvable using the equations of uniform acceleration.
 Projectile motion

This section is devoted to understanding the motion of projectiles

A projectile is an object upon which the only

force acting is gravity

An object dropped
from rest (or And an object
thrown down with which is thrown
an initial velocity) upward at an
is a projectile angle to the
(provided that the horizontal is also
influence of air a projectile
resistance is (provided that the
An object that is thrown vertically
negligible) influence of air
upward is also a projectile
(provided that the influence of air resistance is
resistance is negligible) negligible)
 Projectile motion

An object dropped from

We only need to
rest (or thrown down with
consider motion in
an initial velocity) is a
1-Direction: vertically
projectile (provided that
the influence of air
If it is dropped from
resistance is negligible)
rest then the initial
velocity, u = 0 ms-1

The motion is in the

direction of the
acceleration:
a = g = +9.81 ms-2
 Projectile motion

An object that is thrown vertically We only need to

upward is also a projectile consider motion in
(provided that the influence of air 1-Direction: vertically
resistance is negligible) (up and down)

At the maximum
height, smax, the
velocity, v = 0 ms-1

The motion is initially

in the opposite
direction of the
acceleration:
a = g = -9.81 ms-2
 Projectile motion

An object that is thrown vertically We only need to consider

upward is also a projectile and motion in 1-Direction:
drops beyond the point it was vertically (up and down and
released (provided that the past the ground level)
influence of air resistance is At the maximum height, smax,
negligible) the velocity, v = 0 ms-1
The velocity, v, when the ball
has reached the initial position,
s = 0 is the same as the initial
velocity, u
The motion is initially in the
opposite direction of the
acceleration:
a = g = -9.81 ms-2
 Projectile motion
Option 1:
Problem: • Calculate the time and distance
A man stands on the edge of the for the journey to the top,
cliff and throws a stone vertically • Assume it is being dropped
upwards at 15ms-1. After what from the top at rest with a new
time will the stone hit the ground value for s: distance to the top +
20m below? 20m, and calculate the time
The answer is ~4s, you work it out! • Add both times together
Option 2:
• Calculate the time to travel all
the way up and back to its
original height, so s = 0m
• Calculate the time from ground
a = g = -9.81 ms-2 level to 20m assuming it was
At the maximum height, smax dropped with initial speed the
, the velocity, v = 0 ms-1 same as the original speed
 Projectile motion

A golfer hit ball A. It took 5 seconds to land in the position shown.

He then hit ball B with less force. How long did it take to land in its position?
a. 4 seconds
b. 5 seconds
c. 6 seconds

B A
 Projectile motion

Projectiles in 2 directions
Horizontally and vertically
 Package drop
• The package follows a parabolic path and remains
directly below the plane at all times
• The vertical velocity changes (faster, faster)
• The horizontal velocity is constant!
 Projectile motion

• The vertical velocity changes (faster, faster)

• The horizontal velocity is constant!
 Projectile motion

The time taken for the object Notice that if air

to reach the ground along the resistance is
parabolic path is the same as ignored the vertical
if it were dropped vertically. height of the object
at given times after
The parabolic path for an the start is the
object projected horizontally same no matter
is shown in the diagram what horizontal
velocity it had at
the moment of
release.
A parcel is released from an aircraft travelling horizontally at a
speed of 120ms-1 above level ground.
The parcel hits the ground 8.5 seconds later. Calculate:
a. The height of the aircraft above the ground
b. The horizontal distance travelled in this time by i) the parcel, ii) the
aircraft
c. The speed of impact of the parcel on the ground.

a. Taking vertical motion s = ½ gt2

s = ½ x 9.8 x 8.52 = 354 m
b. Taking horizontal motion s = v x t
s = 120 x 8.5 = 1020m
This is the distance travelled by the aircraft and the parcel
c. Taking vertical motion g = v/t
vertical speed v = 9.8 x 8.5 = 83.3 ms-1
Horizontal speed = 120 ms-1
(resultant speed)2 = 83.32 + 1202 Resultant speed = 146 ms-1
2. An object is projected horizontally at a speed of 16ms-1 into
the sea from a cliff top of height 45.0m. Calculate:
a. How long it takes to reach the sea
16ms-1
b. How far it travels horizontally
c. Its impact vertical velocity.
45.0m
a. Taking vertical motion
s= ½ gt2
45 = ½ x 9.8 x t2
t = 3 s
b. Taking horizontal motion
s = v x t
s = 16 x 3 = 48m

c. The vertical motion

g = v/t v = gt
v = 9.8 x 3 = 29.4 ms-1
3. A dart is thrown horizontally along a line passing through the
centre of a dartboard, 2.3 m away from the point at which the
dart was released. The dart hits the dartboard at a point
0.19m below the centre. Calculate:
a. The time of flight of the dart
b. Its horizontal speed of projection.

a. Taking vertical motion 2.3 m

s= ½ gt2
0.19 = ½ x 9.8 x t2
t = 0.197 s = 0.2 s

a. Taking horizontal motion

s = v x t v = s/t
v = 2.3/0.197 = 11.7 ms-1
 Physics Support Materials
Higher Mechanics and Properties of Matter Equations of Motion
43
 A box is released from a plane travelling with a horizontal velocity of 300 m s -1
and at a height of 300 m. Find:
a) how long it takes the box to hit the ground
Consider the vertical motion of the box
Down is the positive direction
1
s  ut  at 2
s  300 m 2
v? 1
300  0  t   9.8  t 2
2
u  0 m s -1
300  4.9  t 2
a  9.8 m s -2 300
t ? t2   61.2
4.9
t  7.8 s Click the mouse to continue
 Physics Support Materials
Higher Mechanics and Properties of Matter Equations of Motion
43 continued
 A box is released from a plane travelling with a horizontal velocity of
300 m s-1 and at a height of 300 m. Find:
b) the horizontal distance between the point of impact and the release point
Consider the horizontal motion of the box
s s  v t s  300  7.8
v
t s  2340 m
c) the position of the plane relative to the box at the time of impact
The box and the plane have the same horizontal motion
(constant speed), so they travel the distance horizontally as the
box falls. At impact, the plane is vertically above the box.

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 Physics Support Materials
Higher Mechanics and Properties of Matter Equations of Motion
44
 A projectile is fired horizontally from the edge of a cliff at 12 m s -1 and
hits the sea 60 m away. Find:
12 m s-1
a) the time of flight
b) the height of the starting point above the sea level

Sea
60 m

Consider the horizontal motion of the projectile

s s 60
v t t  5s
t v 12

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 Physics Support Materials
Higher Mechanics and Properties of Matter Equations of Motion
44 continued
 A projectile is fired horizontally from the edge of a cliff at 12 m s -1 and
hits the sea 60 m away. Find:
b) the height of the starting point above the sea level
12 m s-1
Consider the vertical motion of the projectile
Down is the positive direction
Sea
s? 1 2 60 m
s  ut  at
v? 2
1
u  0 m s -1 s  0  5   9.8  52
2
a  9.8 m s -2
t  5s s  122.5 m

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 Physics Support Materials
Higher Mechanics and Properties of Matter Equations of Motion
45
 A ball is projected horizontally at 15 m s -1 from the top of a vertical cliff.
It reaches the horizontal ground 45 m from the foot of the cliff.
a) Draw graphs, giving appropriate numerical values of the ball’s
i) horizontal speed against time
Calculating the time of flight:
Consider the horizontal motion of the projectile
v / m s-1
s s
v t 15
t v
10
45
t  3s 5
15
0
1 2 3 t/s

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 Physics Support Materials
Higher Mechanics and Properties of Matter Equations of Motion
45 continued
 A ball is projected horizontally at 15 m s -1 from the top of a vertical cliff.
It reaches the horizontal ground 45 m from the foot of the cliff.
a) Draw graphs, giving appropriate numerical values of the ball’s
ii) vertical speed against time

Consider the vertical motion of the projectile

Calculating the final vertical velocity:
s? v  u  at v / m s-1
v? v  0  9 .8  3 30

u  0 m s -1 v  29.4 m s -1 20

a  9.8 m s -2 10
t  3s 0
1 2 3 t/s

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 Physics Support Materials
Higher Mechanics and Properties of Matter Equations of Motion
45 continued
 A ball is projected horizontally at 15 m s -1 from the top of a vertical cliff.
It reaches the horizontal ground 45 m from the foot of the cliff.
b) Use a vector diagram to find the velocity of the ball 2 s after its projection.

After 2 s the horizontal velocity is 15 m s-1

After 2 s the vertical velocity is 20 m s-1
15 m s-1
 v2 = 152 + 202 20
sin    0.8
v2 = 625 25
v
20 m s-1 v = 25 m s-1   53o

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