Chapter: Projectile Motion
1. Components of Initial Velocity
When a projectile is projected with initial speed 𝑢 at an angle 𝜃 with the horizontal, the
initial velocity can be resolved into two mutually perpendicular components:
• Horizontal component: 𝑢𝑥
• Vertical component: 𝑢𝑦
These components are independent of each other.
Consider the right triangle formed by the velocity vector.
From trigonometry,
𝑢𝑥
cos 𝜃 = (1)
𝑢
Multiplying both sides by 𝑢,
𝑢𝑥 = 𝑢cos 𝜃 (2)
Similarly,
𝑢𝑦
sin 𝜃 = (3)
𝑢
Multiplying both sides by 𝑢,
𝑢𝑦 = 𝑢sin 𝜃 (4)
Therefore,
𝑢𝑥 = 𝑢cos 𝜃 (5)
𝑢𝑦 = 𝑢sin 𝜃 (6)
Important Points
• Horizontal velocity remains constant throughout the motion because horizontal
acceleration is zero.
• Vertical velocity changes continuously due to gravity.
• Horizontal and vertical motions are independent.
2. Equation of Projectile Motion
Projectile motion is the motion of a body projected into the air with an initial velocity,
which then moves under the influence of gravity alone, neglecting air resistance.
Assumptions
• Initial velocity = 𝑢
• Angle of projection = 𝜃
• Acceleration due to gravity = 𝑔 downward
• Air resistance is neglected
• The point of projection is taken as the origin (0, 0)
Horizontal Motion
Since horizontal acceleration is zero,
𝑎𝑥 = 0 (7)
Using the first equation of motion,
1
𝑥 = 𝑢𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2 (8)
2
Substituting 𝑢𝑥 = 𝑢cos 𝜃 and 𝑎𝑥 = 0,
𝑥 = 𝑢cos 𝜃 𝑡 (9)
Vertical Motion
The vertical acceleration is
𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔 (10)
Using the first equation of motion,
1
𝑦 = 𝑢𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡 2 (11)
2
Substituting 𝑢𝑦 = 𝑢sin 𝜃 and 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔,
1
𝑦 = 𝑢sin 𝜃 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2 (12)
2
This is the vertical position equation.
3. Equation of Trajectory
The trajectory is the path followed by a projectile during its motion. For ideal projectile
motion, the trajectory is a parabola.
The trajectory is the relation between 𝑦 and 𝑥, with time eliminated.
From the horizontal equation,
𝑥 = 𝑢cos 𝜃 𝑡 (13)
So,
𝑥
𝑡= (14)
𝑢cos 𝜃
Substitute this value of 𝑡 into the vertical equation:
𝑥 1 𝑥 2
𝑦 = 𝑢sin 𝜃 ( )− 𝑔( ) (15)
𝑢cos 𝜃 2 𝑢cos 𝜃
Simplifying,
sin 𝜃 𝑔𝑥 2
𝑦=𝑥 − (16)
cos 𝜃 2𝑢2 cos2 𝜃
Using
sin 𝜃
tan 𝜃 = (17)
cos 𝜃
we obtain
𝑔𝑥 2
𝑦 = 𝑥tan 𝜃 − (18)
2𝑢2 cos2 𝜃
This is the equation of trajectory.
• The path of a projectile is a parabola.
• The equation of trajectory is independent of time.
4. Time of Flight
The time of flight is the total time for which the projectile remains in the air before returning
to the same horizontal level.
When the projectile returns to the same level,
𝑦=0 (19)
Using the vertical equation,
1
0 = 𝑢sin 𝜃 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2 (20)
2
Taking 𝑡 common,
1
0 = 𝑡 (𝑢sin 𝜃 − 𝑔𝑡) (21)
2
So,
1
𝑡 = 0or𝑢sin 𝜃 − 𝑔𝑡 = 0 (22)
2
The non-zero solution gives the time of flight:
1
𝑔𝑡 = 𝑢sin 𝜃 (23)
2
𝑔𝑡 = 2𝑢sin 𝜃 (24)
Hence,
2𝑢sin 𝜃
𝑇= (25)
𝑔
5. Maximum Height
Maximum height is the greatest vertical distance reached by the projectile above the point
of projection.
At the highest point, vertical velocity is zero:
𝑣𝑦 = 0 (26)
Using the third equation of motion,
𝑣𝑦2 = 𝑢𝑦2 + 2𝑎𝑦 𝑠 (27)
Substituting 𝑢𝑦 = 𝑢sin 𝜃, 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔, and 𝑠 = 𝐻,
0 = (𝑢sin 𝜃)2 + 2(−𝑔)𝐻 (28)
0 = 𝑢2 sin2 𝜃 − 2𝑔𝐻 (29)
2𝑔𝐻 = 𝑢2 sin2 𝜃 (30)
Therefore,
𝑢2 sin2 𝜃
𝐻= (31)
2𝑔
6. Horizontal Range
The horizontal range is the horizontal distance travelled by the projectile before it returns to
the same horizontal level.
or
Horizontal range is the total horizontal distance travelled by a projectile before it returns to
the same horizontal level from which it was projected.
From horizontal motion,
𝑥 = 𝑢cos 𝜃 𝑡 (32)
At the instant of landing,
𝑥 = 𝑅and𝑡 = 𝑇 (33)
Therefore,
𝑅 = 𝑢cos 𝜃 ⋅ 𝑇 (34)
Substituting the value of 𝑇,
2𝑢sin 𝜃
𝑅 = 𝑢cos 𝜃 ( ) (35)
𝑔
2𝑢2 sin 𝜃cos 𝜃
𝑅= (36)
𝑔
Using
sin 2𝜃 = 2sin 𝜃cos 𝜃 (37)
we get
𝑢2 sin 2𝜃
𝑅= (38)
𝑔
Important Note
This formula is valid only when the projectile is projected and lands at the same horizontal
level.
7. Maximum Range
Maximum range is the greatest possible horizontal distance travelled by a projectile
for a given initial speed.
For a fixed initial speed 𝑢, the range is
𝑢2 sin 2𝜃
𝑅= (39)
𝑔
Since 𝑢 and 𝑔 are constants,
𝑅 ∝ sin 2𝜃 (40)
The maximum value of sin 2𝜃 is 1, so
sin 2𝜃 = 1 (41)
Thus,
2𝜃 = 90∘ (42)
𝜃 = 45∘ (43)
Now,
𝑢2 sin 90∘
𝑅max = (44)
𝑔
Since sin 90∘ = 1,
𝑢2
𝑅max = (45)
𝑔
8. Velocity at Any Instant
The velocity of a projectile at any instant is the resultant of its horizontal and vertical
components at that time.
Velocity at any instant has two components.
Horizontal Component
Since horizontal acceleration is zero,
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑢𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 (46)
𝑎𝑥 = 0 ⇒ 𝑣𝑥 = 𝑢𝑥 (47)
Using 𝑢𝑥 = 𝑢cos 𝜃,
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑢cos 𝜃 (48)
Vertical Component
Using the first equation of motion,
𝑣𝑦 = 𝑢𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡 (49)
Substituting 𝑢𝑦 = 𝑢sin 𝜃 and 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔,
𝑣𝑦 = 𝑢sin 𝜃 − 𝑔𝑡 (50)
Resultant Velocity
The magnitude of velocity is
𝑣 = √𝑣𝑥2 + 𝑣𝑦2 (51)
Substituting the components,
𝑣 = √(𝑢cos 𝜃)2 + (𝑢sin 𝜃 − 𝑔𝑡)2 (52)
Direction of Velocity
If the velocity makes an angle 𝛼 with the horizontal, then
𝑣𝑦
tan 𝛼 = (53)
𝑣𝑥
Hence,
𝑢sin 𝜃 − 𝑔𝑡
tan 𝛼 = (54)
𝑢cos 𝜃
9. Velocity at the Highest Point
The velocity at the highest point is the velocity of the projectile at the topmost position
of its path. At this point, the vertical component becomes zero, so the velocity is
purely horizontal.
At the highest point,
𝑣𝑦 = 0 (55)
So the velocity is purely horizontal.
From equation (48),
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑢cos 𝜃 (56)
Therefore,
𝑣 = 𝑢cos 𝜃 (57)
10. Complementary Angles of Projection
Two angles of projection are called complementary angles if their sum is 𝟗𝟎∘ . For the
same initial speed, projectiles projected at complementary angles have the same
horizontal range.
Suppose two projectiles are projected with the same speed 𝑢 at angles 𝜃 and 90∘ − 𝜃.
For angle 𝜃,
𝑢2 sin 2𝜃
𝑅1 = (58)
𝑔
For angle 90∘ − 𝜃,
𝑢2 sin[2(90∘ − 𝜃)]
𝑅2 = (59)
𝑔
𝑢2 sin(180∘ − 2𝜃)
𝑅2 = (60)
𝑔
Using
sin(180∘ − 𝐴) = sin 𝐴 (61)
we get
𝑢2 sin 2𝜃
𝑅2 = (62)
𝑔
Thus,
𝑅1 = 𝑅2 (63)
So, complementary angles of projection give the same range.
11. Projectile on an Inclined Plane
Projectile motion on an inclined plane is the motion of a projectile projected from or
onto a plane inclined at an angle to the horizontal.
Let the plane be inclined at angle 𝛽 to the horizontal, and let the projectile be projected
with speed 𝑢 at angle 𝜃.
The trajectory of the projectile is
𝑔𝑥 2
𝑦 = 𝑥tan 𝜃 − (64)
2𝑢2 cos2 𝜃
The equation of the inclined plane is
𝑦 = 𝑥tan 𝛽 (65)
At the point of impact,
𝑔𝑥 2
𝑥tan 𝛽 = 𝑥tan 𝜃 − (66)
2𝑢2 cos2 𝜃
Rearranging,
𝑔𝑥 2
𝑥(tan 𝜃 − tan 𝛽) = (67)
2𝑢2 cos2 𝜃
For 𝑥 ≠ 0,
𝑔𝑥
tan 𝜃 − tan 𝛽 = (68)
2𝑢2 cos2 𝜃
Thus,
2𝑢2 cos2 𝜃(tan 𝜃 − tan 𝛽)
𝑥= (69)
𝑔
Using
sin(𝐴 − 𝐵)
tan 𝐴 − tan 𝐵 = (70)
cos 𝐴cos 𝐵
we obtain
2𝑢2 cos 𝜃sin(𝜃 − 𝛽)
𝑥= (71)
𝑔cos 𝛽
If 𝑅𝑖 is the distance measured along the inclined plane, then
𝑥 = 𝑅𝑖 cos 𝛽 (72)
Hence,
2𝑢2 cos 𝜃sin(𝜃 − 𝛽)
𝑅𝑖 = (73)
𝑔cos2 𝛽
For maximum range on an inclined plane,
𝛽
𝜃 = 45∘ + (74)
2
12. Relative Motion of Two Projectiles
Relative motion of two projectiles is the motion of one projectile with respect to
another. Since both are under the same gravitational acceleration, their relative
acceleration is zero.
Suppose two projectiles 𝐴 and 𝐵 are projected simultaneously.
The relative velocity of 𝐴 with respect to 𝐵 is
𝑣⃗𝐴𝐵 = 𝑣⃗𝐴 − 𝑣⃗𝐵 (75)
Since both projectiles move only under gravity,
𝑎⃗𝐴 = −𝑔𝑗̂, 𝑎⃗𝐵 = −𝑔𝑗̂ (76)
Therefore, the relative acceleration is
𝑎⃗𝐴𝐵 = 𝑎⃗𝐴 − 𝑎⃗𝐵 (77)
𝑎⃗𝐴𝐵 = (−𝑔𝑗̂) − (−𝑔𝑗̂) = 0 (78)
Hence,
𝑎⃗𝐴𝐵 = 0 (79)
So, the relative velocity remains constant:
𝑣⃗𝐴𝐵 = constant (80)
The relative position is therefore
𝑟⃗𝐴𝐵 = 𝑟⃗0𝐴𝐵 + 𝑣⃗𝐴𝐵 𝑡 (81)