Lesson 15.
Horizontal Projectiles
Learning Competency
At the end of this lesson, the given DepEd learning
competency should be met by the students.
Describe the horizontal and vertical motions of a
projectile (S9FE-IVa-34).
Learning Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Describe the horizontal and vertical motions of a
projectile.
● Characterize projectiles that are launched
horizontally.
● Solve problems related to horizontally-launched
projectiles.
Objects in motion
are often
described as
either going up or
down, or left or
right.
What makes an
object freely falling?
Naturally, motion is
characterized in one
dimension where an object
is directed. This form of
motion, such as free fall, is
the simplest one.
However, in real life, objects are often found
to be moving along two or three dimensions.
In this lesson, you will learn about the
horizontal and vertical components of a two-
dimensional motion.
What makes an
object a projectile?
Learn about It
Projectile Motion
● Projectile motion is a two-dimensional motion influenced
solely by gravity that has a nonzero horizontal velocity
component.
● Examples include:
○ a baseball thrown by the pitcher
○ a golf ball hit by the club
○ a basketball thrown toward the basket
Learn about It
Projectile Motion
a golf ball when hit by the a baseball thrown a basketball thrown in the
club by the pitcher air
Objects that follow a curved path exhibit projectile motion.
Learn about It
Projectile Motion
● These objects simultaneously move in the vertical and
horizontal directions.
● All of the examples mentioned exhibit projectile motion.
Learn about It
Projectile Motion
● A projectile is any object shot, projected, or launched in the
air. It may refer to a ball, a rock, or even a particle.
● The motion of a projectile takes place in a vertical plane.
When given an initial velocity, it follows a path mainly
affected by gravity.
Learn about It
Projectile Motion
● Due to gravitational force, projectile follows a curve path.
● This curve or parabolic path followed by a projectile is called
trajectory.
● On the other hand, range is the horizontal distance covered
by a projectile.
Learn about It
Horizontal and Vertical Components of Projectile
● The horizontal and vertical motions of a projectile are
independent of each other.
● It means that the motion of the projectile along the x-
direction does not affect its motion along the y-direction.
Learn about It
The horizontal component of a projectile follows a
constant velocity motion, while the vertical
component follows a constant downward
acceleration.
Learn about It
Horizontal and Vertical Components of Projectile
● Notice that the height of the white
and red balls are the same at each
time interval.
● The heights per successive image
increases, indicating that both objects
A projectile covers the same
have increasing velocity, and thus, distance per time interval as an
both are accelerating. object in free fall.
Learn about It
Horizontal and Vertical Components of Projectile
● The red ball on the left is in free fall
motion, and therefore, only gravity
affects its motion.
A projectile covers the same
distance per time interval as an
object in free fall.
Learn about It
Horizontal and Vertical Components of Projectile
● The same thing occurs in the white
one. After it was given an initial
velocity, the only force affecting it is
the gravitational force.
● The fact that the white ball is moving
horizontally while it is falling has no A projectile covers the same
effect on its vertical motion. distance per time interval as an
object in free fall.
Learn about It
Keep in mind that just like free fall, the effect of air
resistance is also neglected in projectile motion.
The statements would not be the same if air
resistance is to be considered.
Learn about It
Calculating Projectile Motion
● The vertical component of a
projectile is similar to a free
falling object.
● As it falls, the distance it covers
increases per time interval.
This means that its velocity
increases at a uniform rate. The vertical motion of a projectile is a uniformly
accelerated motion, while its horizontal
component is a constant motion.
Learn about It
Calculating Projectile Motion
● The object experiences a
constant acceleration of –9.8
m/s2 along the vertical direction.
● It is evident that it increases at a
uniform rate.
● The negative sign only indicates
that the direction of the object’s The vertical motion of a projectile is a
uniformly accelerated motion, while its
velocity is downward. horizontal component is a constant
motion
Learn about It
Calculating Projectile Motion
● The horizontal component of
a projectile, however, is as
simple as a ball rolling on a flat
surface at a constant velocity.
● This is sometimes referred to
as the x-component as it The vertical motion of a projectile is a
moves along the x-axis or the uniformly accelerated motion, while its
horizontal component is a constant
x-direction. motion
Learn about It
Calculating Projectile Motion
● The time it takes for the projectile to cover the vertical
distance is the same as the time it requires to cover the
horizontal distance.
● Therefore, solving for time in one component is enough
because it will also give you the time for the other
component.
Learn about It
Calculating Projectile Motion
As the velocity along the horizontal component is zero, the
initial velocity of the projectile is equal to its final velocity
or to any velocity at any time interval.
Therefore,
.
Learn about It
Calculating Projectile Motion
Since the velocity is constant along the x-component, the
object is not accelerating.
Hence,
.
Learn about It
Calculating Projectile Motion
Similar to any object moving in a straight line, the distance
covered or range of the projectile is equivalent to
where x is the range, vx is the velocity along the horizontal
direction, and t is the time.
Learn about It
An object horizontally thrown has a vertical motion
similar to an object dropped from rest.
Thus, it can be concluded that its initial velocity
along the y-direction is zero.
Learn about It
Calculating Projectile Motion
To solve for other components, the four equations from the
previous unit will be used. Only this time, instead of exclusively
using vi and vf, a subscript y is added to emphasize that these
velocities are along the vertical or y-direction.
Learn about It
Calculating Projectile Motion
● Resultant velocity is the vector sum of the horizontal and
vertical components of the projectile’s velocity.
● Its magnitude can be solved using the Pythagorean theorem
as
Learn about It
Calculating Projectile Motion
The final velocity of the projectiles is composed of
vertical and horizontal components.
Tips
In solving for unknown quantities, remember to do the
following:
● Check for the consistency of units.
● Isolate the unknown quantity on one side of the equation
before substituting the given values.
Try It!
A stone is thrown horizontally at a speed of
6.0 m/s from the top of a cliff that is 70.0 m
high. How long does it take the stone to reach
the bottom of the cliff?
Try It! (Answer)
A stone is thrown horizontally at a speed of 6.0 m/s from the top of a cliff
that is 70.0 m high. How long does it take the stone to reach the bottom
of the cliff?
Step 1: Identify what is being asked in the problem.
You are asked to calculate the time it takes the stone to reach the
bottom of the cliff.
Try It! (Answer)
A stone is thrown horizontally at a speed of 6.0 m/s from the top of a cliff
that is 70.0 m high. How long does it take the stone to reach the bottom
of the cliff?
Step 2: Identify the given in the problem.
The initial velocity, height, and acceleration due to gravity are all
given.
Try It! (Answer)
A stone is thrown horizontally at a speed of 6.0 m/s from the top of a cliff
that is 70.0 m high. How long does it take the stone to reach the bottom
of the cliff?
Step 3: Write the working equation.
Since you are only considering the motion along the vertical
component, you can use the equations below.
Try It! (Answer)
A stone is thrown horizontally at a speed of 6.0 m/s from the top of a cliff
that is 70.0 m high. How long does it take the stone to reach the bottom
of the cliff?
Step 4: Substitute the given values.
Try It! (Answer)
A stone is thrown horizontally at a speed of 6.0 m/s from the top of a cliff
that is 70.0 m high. How long does it take the stone to reach the bottom
of the cliff?
Step 5: Find the answer.
The stone took 3.78 s to reach the bottom of the cliff.
Try It!
A PAF helicopter is flying at about 8.0 m high
from the roof of the houses with a horizontal
speed of 12.0 m/s. What is the farthest distance
relief goods can reach if the rescuers just
dropped the package?
Try It! (Answer)
A PAF helicopter is flying at about 8.0 m high from the roof of the houses
with a horizontal speed of 12.0 m/s. What is the farthest distance relief
goods can reach if the rescuers just dropped the package?
Step 1: Identify what is being asked in the problem.
You are asked to calculate the range.
Try It! (Answer)
A PAF helicopter is flying at about 8.0 m high from the roof of the houses
with a horizontal speed of 12.0 m/s. What is the farthest distance relief
goods can reach if the rescuers just dropped the package?
Step 2: Identify the given in the problem.
The initial velocity, height, and acceleration due to gravity are all
given.
Try It! (Answer)
A PAF helicopter is flying at about 8.0 m high from the roof of the houses
with a horizontal speed of 12.0 m/s. What is the farthest distance relief
goods can reach if the rescuers just dropped the package?
Step 3: Write the working equation.
Try It! (Answer)
A PAF helicopter is flying at about 8.0 m high from the roof of the houses
with a horizontal speed of 12.0 m/s. What is the farthest distance relief
goods can reach if the rescuers just dropped the package?
Step 4: Substitute the given values.
Try It! (Answer)
A PAF helicopter is flying at about 8.0 m high from the roof of the houses
with a horizontal speed of 12.0 m/s. What is the farthest distance relief
goods can reach if the rescuers just dropped the package?
Step 5: Find the answer.
The relief goods would reach people within a 15.4 m radius.
Key Points
● Projectile motion is a two-dimensional motion influenced
solely by gravity that has a nonzero horizontal velocity
component.
● A projectile is any object shot, projected, or launched in the
air. It may refer to a ball, a rock, or even a particle.
● The curve or parabolic path followed by a projectile is called a
trajectory.
Key Points
● Range is the horizontal distance covered by a projectile.
● The vertical component of a projectile is similar to a free-
falling object.
● The horizontal component of a projectile, however, is as
simple as a ball rolling on a flat surface at a constant velocity.
● Resultant velocity is the vector sum of the horizontal and
vertical components of the projectile’s velocity.
Check Your Understanding
Identify whether the statement is true or false.
1. Projectile motion is a two-dimensional motion influenced
solely by gravity that has a nonzero horizontal velocity
component.
1. Range is the vertical distance covered by a projectile.
1. A projectile is any object shot, projected or launched in the
air. It may refer to a ball, a rock or even a particle.
Bibliography
Faughn, Jerry S. and Raymond A. Serway. 2006. Serway’s College Physics, 7th edition. Singapore:
Brooks/Cole.
Hewitt, Paul G. 2002. Conceptual Physics, 9th edition. Singapore: Pearson Education.
Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. 2009. University Physics, 12th edition. Singapore:
Pearson Education.
Zitzewitz, Paul W., David G. Haase, and Kathleen A. Harper. 2013. Physics: Principles and Problems. United
States: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill.