Projectile Motion I

WHAT IS
PROJECTILE
MOTION?

Defining Projectiles
A projectile is an object upon which the only force
acting is gravity. There are a variety of examples of
projectiles. An object dropped from rest is a projectile
(provided that the influence of air resistance is
negligible). An object that is thrown vertically
upward is also a projectile (provided that the
influence of air resistance is negligible). And an
object which is thrown upward at an angle to the
horizontal is also a projectile (provided that the
influence of air resistance is negligible).

A projectile is any object that once projected or

dropped continues in motion by its own inertia
and is influenced only by the downward force
of gravity.
The path of a projectile is called its trajectory.

Projectile Motion and Inertia

Newton's laws suggest that forces are only required to cause an
acceleration (not a motion).
A force is not required to keep an object in motion. A force is
only required to maintain an acceleration. And in the case of a
projectile that is moving upward, there is a downward force
and a downward acceleration. That is, the object is moving
upward and slowing down.

Now suppose that the gravity switch is turned on

and that the cannonball is projected
horizontally from the top of the same cliff.
What effect will gravity have upon the motion
of the cannonball? Will gravity affect the
cannonball's horizontal motion? Will the
cannonball travel a greater (or shorter)
horizontal distance due to the influence of
gravity?

A projectile is an object upon which the only force is

gravity. Gravity acts to influence the vertical
motion of the projectile, thus causing a vertical
acceleration. The horizontal motion of the
projectile is the result of the tendency of any object
in motion to remain in motion at constant velocity.
Due to the absence of horizontal forces, a projectile
remains in motion with a constant horizontal
velocity. Horizontal forces are not required to keep
a projectile moving horizontally. The only force
acting upon a projectile is gravity!

 A projectile is any object with an initial nonzero, horizontal velocity whose acceleration is
due to gravity alone.

The key components that we need to remember in order to solve

projectile motion problems are:
Initial launch angle,
Initial velocity, u
Time of flight, T
Acceleration, a
Horizontal velocity, vx
Vertical velocity, vy
Displacement, d
Maximum height, H
Range, R

trajectory formula

 Question1:
A body is projected with a velocity of 20 ms-1 at 50o to the horizontal. Find
(i) Maximum height reached
(ii) Time of flight and
(iii) Range of the projectile.
Solution:
Initial Velocity Vo = 20 ms-1,
= 50o
Time of flight, t = 2V0sing
= 220sin5009.8
= 3.126 s.
Maximum Height reached, H = V2osin22g
= (20)2sin250229.8
= 11.97 m.
Horizontal Range R = v20sin2g
= 202sin100o9.8
= 40.196 m.

John is on top of the building and jack is down. If john throws a ball at an
angle of 60o and with initial velocity 20 m/s. At what height will the ball
reach after 2 s?
Solution:
Given: Vyo = 20 m/s,
t = 2s,
The Vertical velocity in y direction is given by Vy = Vyo sin 60o
= 20 32
= 17.32 m/s.
Vertical distance, y = Vyo t - 12 gt2
= 20 2 - 0.5 9.8 4
= 20.4 m.

Ballistic
The study of the motion of projectiles.
is the science of mechanics that deals with the
launching, flight, behavior, and effects of
projectiles, especially bullets,gravity bombs,
rockets, or the like; the science or art of
designing and accelerating projectiles so as to
achieve a desired performance.