Projectile Motion

Projectile Motion
Todays Objectives:
Recognize examples of projectile motion,
Recognize that the horizontal and vertical
components of a projectiles motion are
independent of each other, and
Resolve vectors into their components,
and apply the kinematic equations to
solve problems involving projectiles.

What Is Projectile Motion?
Projectile Motion is the motion of
objects moving in two dimensions
under the influence of gravity. Air
resistance is negligible (we can ignore
it).
EXAMPLES OF PROJECTILES
Examples of projectiles include anything
launched or thrown into the air such as
cannon balls, baseballs, pumpkins,
soccer balls, tennis balls, handballs,
racquetballs, people, four-square balls,
softballs, mothballs, fireworks, water from
rain clouds or from a hose

There Are Some Common
Misconceptions.
Going fast horizontally means you dont fall as fast.
If you go fast enough, you dont fall at all.
Gravity wont act on you until you look down.
The Truth Is...
If gravity is the only force acting on an object,
it will accelerate at a rate of 9.8 m/s
2
DOWN,
regardless of whats happening horizontally.
In fact, if the object doesnt have wings, jet
engines, propellers or rockets, its horizontal
motion will have absolutely no effect on its
vertical motion.
They are completely independent of
each other.


This is Key
To understanding projectiles:
Horizontally, projectiles move with
constant velocity.
Vertically, projectiles move with
constant acceleration.
WHY? Lets Consider a Little Information
About Newtons Laws of Motion
Newtons First Law of Motion, also known as the
Law of Inertia, states that a body in motion will
remain in motion at constant velocity, unless acted
upon by an unbalanced force (and that a body at
rest will remain at rest).

Therefore, if there were no gravity, an object fired
from a cannon off a hilltop would continue along a
straight-line path at constant velocity forever and
everthe horizontal motion remains constant.
The Path of a Projectile Without Gravity
The cannon ball moves
a constant amount with
each second.
Path of a Projectile With Gravity
2
2
1
i
gt t v y
y
WATCH THE NUMBERS
The Horizontal Motion is
Independent of the Vertical Motion
HORIZONTAL VELOCITY is STILL Constant
WHAT DOES THE PILOT SEE (LOOKING DOWN)
IF THE PLANE WERE MADE OF GLASS ?
Whats a Satellite??
Consider Horizontal and Vertical
Components of Motion Independently
Vertical Components:
y - vertical displacement
g - vertical acceleration (9.8 m/s
2
)
v
yi
- initial vertical velocity
v
yf
- final vertical velocity
t - time

Horizontal Components:
x - horizontal displacement
v
xi
= v
xf
- horizontal velocity
t - time

How Do We Solve Projectile Problems??
Vertical Equations
v
f
=

v
i
+ at v
yf
=

v
yi
- gt
v
f
2
=

v
i
2
+ 2a y v
yf
2
=

v
yi
2
- 2g y
y = v
i
t

+ 1/2at
2
y = v
yi
t

1/2gt
2

y = 1/2(v
i
+v
f
)t y = 1/2(v
yi
+v
yf
)t
y = v
f
t

- 1/2at
2
y = v
i
t

+ 1/2gt
2


Horizontal Equation
x = v
x
t
How Do We Solve Projectile Problems??
These equations assume that
down is negative!!
Since horizontal acceleration is
zero, this is the only equation.
1. Draw an accurate diagram showing the
trajectory of the object.
2. Solve for the horizontal and vertical components
of the initial velocity, if given.
3. Complete a data table using given and implied
data, based on an appropriate sign convention
(you assign).
4. Identify what you are looking for. Remember
you need at least 3 pieces of vertical data to use
kinematic equations if you dont have 3, look
to the horizontal data to find time, which is the
only common variable.

How Do We Solve Projectile
Problems??
Human Cannonball
Mr. Maroo is launched from a cannon with
an initial velocity of 18 m/s at an angle of 25
with the horizontal. (a) How high will he go?
(b) Where should a safety net be placed so
that he lands safely? (c) How much time
does he spend in the air?
Given:
V
i
=18 m/s
V
xi
=18 m/s cos 25= 16.3 m/s
V
yi
=18 m/s sin 25= 7.6 m/s
V H
25
V
yi
=7.6 m/s V
xi
=16.3 m/s
g=-9.8 m/s
2

V
yf
= 0 m/s
Practice With an Applet
http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/109N/more_stuff/Applets/ProjectileMotion/jarapplet.html