Projectile Motion

Introduction to Projectile
 The most common example of an
object which is moving in two-
dimensions is a projectile.

A projectile is an object upon which the only

force acting is gravity.
 Freefall and Projectile

Any object moving downwards, upwards,

upwards and rightwards, or downward and
leftwards; which is acted upon by the force of
gravity is called a projectile.

Freefall  Projectile Motion

 Misconception

•If an object is moving upward, there must

be an upward force.
•If an object is moving upwards and
rightwards, there must be both an upwards
and rightwards force.

"How in the world can object be moving upward if

the only force acting upon it is gravity?"

Belief: forces cause motion

Newtonian Physics
A force is not required to keep an object in
motion. A force is only required to maintain
an acceleration.
Newtonian Physics
Gravity will act downwards upon the cannonball
to effect its vertical motion. Gravity causes a
vertical acceleration, causing the ball to drop
vertically below its otherwise straight-line,
inertial path.
 Projectile Motion
• All objects released at the same time (with no vertical initial
velocity) will hit the ground at the same time, regardless of
their horizontal velocity
• The horizontal velocity remains constant
throughout the motion (since there is no horizontal force).

demonstration*
Reductionist Approach
• By breaking the motion into independent parts, analysis is
simplified!
• The horizontal and vertical motions are independent.

Horizontal motion with

constant velocity and
vertical motion with
constant acceleration.
Vector Diagram

The important concept depicted in the above

vector diagram is that the horizontal velocity
remains constant during the course of the
trajectory and the vertical velocity changes by
~10 m/s every second.
 Velocity Components

vx
Velocity is a vector
quantity vy v

Vx = V cos
Vy = V sin
Governing equations
x = xo + voxt

1 2
Y = yo + voyt – gt
2

where vox and voy are the initial

horizontal and vertical velocities,
respectively.
Suggested Experiments
1. Initial velocity components
vox
xo,yo,and
voy = zero

vox  R R=range
2y
g Exercise: Derive this
equation!
2. Range of a projectile

Measure the range,

R for different angle.


Verify from this R = range
equation, that:
2
The range is greatest
R
vo
sin 2 when  = 45o
g
Exercise: Derive this
equation!
3.Trajectory

For a given
angle of release
,measure y for
every x. y


Plot x versus y
x

Remark: The graph should show

a parabolic curve.
References:
•http:/www.physicsclassroom.com
•Tipler, P.A., Physics for Scientist and
Engineers,4th Edition
END