Physics
Mechanics
Contents
1
1. Projectile
Any body thrown into the space so that it moves under the influence of gravity alone is called
projectile and the path traced out by it is called trajectory.
Example of projectile:- Bullet fired from gun, stone thrown into space, bombs or objects
dropped from flying airplane etc.
a) Fired from ground
Consider a body is fired from the ground with a velocity u making an angle 𝜃 with horizontal.
Consider x-axia along horizontal and y-axis along y-axis. The rectangular components of u
are
𝑢 𝑥 = 𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑢 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
Neglecting air resistance, the horizontal component of velocity remains constant but the
vertical velocity goes on decreasing and becomes zero at the maximum height then the body
moves toward the surface to the earth.
Let P(x,y) be the position of body at any time ’t’.
We have,
1
𝑆𝑥 = 𝑢𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑎 𝑥 𝑡 2
2
Here,
𝑆𝑥 = 𝑥
𝑢 𝑥 = 𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑎 𝑥 = 0𝑚/𝑠2
2
Then,
𝑥 = 𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 × 𝑡
𝑥
or, t = 𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 ———(i)
Again,
1
𝑆𝑦 = 𝑢𝑦 × 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑦𝑡2
2
Here,
𝑆𝑦 = 𝑦
𝑢 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑎 𝑦 = −𝑔
1
𝑇 ℎ𝑒𝑛, 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 × 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2
2
Substituting the value of ’t’ from equation (i) ,we get,
𝑥 1 𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 × − 𝑔.( )2
𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 2 𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
1 𝑔
𝑜𝑟, 𝑦 = 𝑇 𝑎𝑛𝜃 𝑥 − × 𝑥2
2 𝑢 𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝜃
2
𝑜𝑟, 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏𝑥 2 − − − − − (𝑖𝑖)
where,
𝑎 = 𝑇 𝑎𝑛𝜃
𝑏 = 21 . 𝑢2 𝑐𝑜𝑠
𝑔
2 𝜃 are constants.
Equation (ii) is an equation of parabola. Therefore, trajectory is parabolic.
a. Velocity at point P:-
Let 𝑣 𝑃 be the velocity of the body at point P i.e. at time ′𝑡 ′ and 𝑣 𝑃𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣 𝑝 𝑦 be its rectangular
components. Then,
𝑣 𝑃𝑥 = 𝑢 𝑥 = 𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 [∵ Along horizontal there is no force means no acceleration and the
horizontal velocity remains constant throughout the motion. ]
𝑣𝑃 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦𝑡
Here, 𝑢 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑎 𝑦 = −𝑔
Then,
𝑣 𝑃 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝑔𝑡
Now,
√︃
𝑣 𝑝 = 𝑣 𝑃 2𝑥 + 𝑣 𝑃 2𝑦
√︁
𝑜𝑟, 𝑣 𝑝 = (𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) 2 + (𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝑔𝑡) 2
Let 𝛽 be the angle made by 𝑣 𝑝 with horizontal.
Then
𝑣𝑃 𝑦
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛽 =
𝑣 𝑃𝑥
𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃−𝑔𝑡
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛽 = 𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 .........(iii)
3
b. Time of flight(T) :-
It is the time in which the body remains in space and denoted by T.
If ′𝑡 ′ be the time to reach the body in the maximum height, then
Time of flight(T) = Ascending time + Descending time
𝑇 =𝑡+𝑡
𝑇 = 2𝑡
We have,
𝑣 𝑦 = 𝑢 𝑦 + 𝑔𝑡
Here,
𝑢 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑎 𝑦 = −𝑔
At the maximum height,
𝑣𝑦 = 0
Then,
𝑜 = 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝑔𝑡
𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑜𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑔
2𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
Now, 𝑇 = 𝑔 .........(iv)
c. Maximum vertical height 𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥 :-
It is the maximum height obtained by the body during its motion and it is denoted by 𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥
We have,
𝑣 2𝑦 = 𝑢 2𝑦 + 2𝑎 𝑦 𝑠
Here,
𝑢 𝑦 = 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑎 𝑦 = −𝑔
At, maximum height, 𝑣 𝑦 = 0 𝑚/𝑠
Then, 0 = (𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃) 2 + 2 × −𝑔 × 𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥
2
𝑂𝑟, 𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥 = (𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃)
2𝑔
d. Horizontal Range (R):-
It is the horizontal distance traveled by the body during its motion and denoted by R. We
have,
1
𝑆𝑥 = 𝑢𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑎 𝑥 𝑡 2
2
Here,
𝑡 =𝑇
𝑆𝑥 = 𝑅
𝑢 𝑥 = 𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
4
𝑎 𝑥 = 0𝑚/𝑠2
Then,
𝑅 = 𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 × 𝑇
2𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑜𝑟, 𝑅 = 𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 ×
𝑔
𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃
or, 𝑅 = 𝑔 ..........(v)
e. Maximum horizontal range (𝑅𝑚𝑎𝑥 ) : −
We have,
𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃
𝑅=
𝑔
The horizontal range becomes maximum when 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃 becomes maximum i.e. 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃 = 1
𝑜𝑟, 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛900
𝑜𝑟, 2𝜃 = 900
𝑜𝑟, 𝜃 = 450
𝑢2
∴ 𝑅𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑔 which is obtained when the body is projected at 450
f. Minimum velocity to obtain the same horizontal range :-
We have
𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃
𝑅=
𝑔
For the minimum velocity 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃 must be maximum which is equal to 1.
𝑢 2𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑅=
𝑔
√︁
𝑂𝑟, 𝑢 𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑅×𝑔
g. Another angle of projection for the same horizontal range :-
We have
𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃
𝑅= − − − − − − − −(𝑖𝑣)
𝑔
Let 𝛼 = 900 − 𝜃 be the another angle of projection of 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑡𝑎. Let 𝑅′ be the new horizontal
range for the angle of projection 𝛼 . Then,
𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
𝑅′ =
𝑔
𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2(900 − 𝜃)
𝑂𝑟, 𝑅′ =
𝑔
𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛(1800 − 2𝜃)
=
𝑔
5
𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃
𝑅′ = − − − − − − − −(𝑣)
𝑔
From eqn(iv) and eqn(v), it is clear that 𝑅′ = 𝑅. Therefore, another angle of projection of
𝜃 𝑖𝑠 900 − 𝜃 to produce the same horizontal range.
Problems related to projectile fired from the ground:-
1. A projectile is fired from ground level, with a velocity 500𝑚/𝑠 at 300 to the horizontal.
Find the horizontal range, the greatest vertical height to which it rises and the time to
reach the greatest height.
Soln: Here,
Velocity (u) = 500𝑚/𝑠
Angle of projection with horizontal (𝜃) = 30
𝑅 =?, 𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥 =? 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡 =?
For horizontal range, we have,
𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃
𝑅=
𝑔
5002 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛(2 × 300 )
=
10
= 21650.64𝑚
Now, for max. vertical height, we have,
𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
2𝑔
5002 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 300
=
2 × 10
= 3125𝑚
Again, for the time to reach maximum height, we have
𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑡=
𝑔
2. A body is projected at an angle 450 with a velocity 200𝑚/𝑠 , calculate the maximum
height attained by the projectile and time of flight.
6
3. A projectile is fired from the ground level with a velocity 600𝑚/𝑠 at 300 to the horizon.
Find its horizontal range. What is the least speed with which it could be projected in
order to achieve the same horizontal range? (𝑔 = 10𝑚/𝑠2 )
Sol.:-
𝑢 = 600𝑚/𝑠
𝑅 =?
𝑢 𝑚𝑖𝑛 =?
We have,
𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃
𝑅=
𝑔
6002 𝑠𝑖𝑛(2 × 300 )
=
10
= 31176.91𝑚
Again, we have, √︁
𝑢 𝑚 𝑖𝑛 = 𝑅×𝑔
= 558.36𝑚/𝑠
4. A body is projected upwards making an angle 𝜃 with the horizontal with a velocity of
300𝑚𝑠−1 . Find the value of 𝜃 so that the horizontal range will be maximum. Hence
find its range and time of flight.
Sol. For the maximum horizontal range, the angle of projection (𝜃) = 450
2
Here, 𝑅 = 𝑢𝑔 = 9000𝑚
Now, time of flight(T) = 2𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑔 = 42.42𝑠𝑒𝑐.
[Link] velocity
The relative velocity of a body with respect to another body is defined as the time rate of
change of displacement of one body with respect to another body when both are in motion.
OR
It is the velocity of a body A as measured from the frame of reference of another body B
when both are in motion. In simpler terms, it is how fast and in what direction one body is
moving from the viewpoint of another [Link] is a vector quantity so it has both magnitude
(speed) and direction.
7
Consider two bodies A and B are moving with the velocities 𝑣® 𝐴 and 𝑣®𝐵 making an angle 𝜃 as
shown in figure (i). The relative velocity of the body A with respect to B is defined as
𝑣® 𝐴𝐵 = 𝑣® 𝐴 − 𝑣®𝐵 .........(𝑖)
To calculate the magnitude and direction of 𝑣® 𝐴𝐵 , the observer B is taken at rest mathematically
by adding −®𝑣 𝐵 with 𝑣® 𝐵 as shown in fig (ii). A parallelogram is completed with 𝑣®𝐴 and −®𝑣 𝐵
ant its diagonal represents magnitude and direction of 𝑣® 𝐴𝐵 .
From parallelogram law of vector addition, we have,
√︁
𝑅 = 𝑃2 + 𝑄 2 + 2𝑃𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
So, √︃
𝑣 𝐴𝐵 = 𝑣 2𝐴 + 𝑣 2𝑏 + 2𝑣 𝐴 𝑣 𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠(1800 − 𝜃)
Note: The vector 𝑣®𝐵 is rotated through the angle 1800 so the angel between 𝑣® 𝐴 and −®𝑣 𝐵 is
1800 − 𝜃 √︃
𝑂𝑟, 𝑣 𝐴𝐵 = 𝑣 2𝐴 + 𝑣 2𝑏 − 2𝑣 𝐴 𝑣 𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃..........(𝑖𝑖)
Again, from parallelogram law of vector addition, we have
𝑄 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑇 𝑎𝑛𝛽 =
𝑃 + 𝑄 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑣 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛(1800 − 𝜃)
𝑂𝑟, 𝑇 𝑎𝑛𝛽 =
𝑣 𝐴 + 𝑣 𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠(1800 − 𝜃)
𝑣 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑂𝑟, 𝑇 𝑎𝑛𝛽 = ..............(𝑖𝑖𝑖)
𝑣 𝐴 − 𝑣 𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
specific cases:-
8
9