Physics /JSC Projectile

PROJECTILE

Any object projected into space or air, such that it moves under the effect of gravity alone,
is called a projectile.
OR
A body projected into the space and is no longer being propelled by fuel is called a projectile.
The path followed by the projectile is called its trajectory.
Example of Projectile :
(i) A bullet fired from a rifle.
(ii) A cricket ball thrown into space.
(iii) A bomb or a small bag dropped from an aeroplane.
(iv) A stone thrown from the top of a hill or a tower.
(v) Motion of a ball hit with a cricket bat.
A. Projectile fired vertically upward :
Consider a projectile thrown from A with a velocity ‘u’ in vertically upward direction. Its
velocity decreases gradually till it becomes zero at B.
We can derive the following results.
(i) Maximum height : It is the maximum distance travelled by the projectile in the vertical
direction.
B v=0
At A, initial velocity = u


At B final velocity = 0
Acceleration = – g h g


Distance travelled = h
we know, v2 – u2 = 2as
u


0 – u2 = – 2gh A
Projectile fired vertically upward
– u2 = – 2gh
u2 = 2gh
u2
h = —— ------------------------- (1)
2g

76
 Physics /JSC Projectile
(ii) Time of ascent : It is the time taken by the projectile to rise to the highest point.
At A, initial velocity = u
At B, final velocity = 0
Acceleration = – g
Time = t
we know from the equation of motion,
v = u + at
0 = u – gt
u = gt
u
t = —— ---------------------------- (2)
g
(iii) Time of descent : It is the time taken by the projectile to come down from the highest point
to the point of projection. Consider motion of the projectile from B to A,
Acceleration = g
Time = t1
Distance = h
Applying equation of motion, S = ut + (½) at2
h = 0 + (½ )gt12
2h
t12 = ——
g
Using eqn (1) in the above equation
2 u2
t = —— ——
1
2
g 2g
u2
t = ——
1
2
g2
u
t1 = —— --------------------------- (3)
g
From equation (2) and (3) it was seen that time of ascent is equal to the time of descent.
(iv) Speed on reaching ground : Consider the motion from B to A
At B, initial velocity = 0

77
 Physics /JSC Projectile
At A, final velocity = v
Acceleration = g
Distance = h
Applying the 3rd equation of motion,
i.e. v2 – u2 = 2as
v2 – 0 = 2gh
v2 = 2gh
Using equation (1) we get
u2
v2 = 2gh = 2g ——
2g We should reject +ve sign since the
v = u v =  u
2 2 velocity of the body on reaching the
ground is in downward direction.
 v=–u ------------------ (4)
Thus the body falls back, on the earth, with the same speed, with which it was projected.
Horizontal range : It is the distance travelled by the projectile in the horizontal direction.
Since the projectile has no component of velocity in the horizontal direction, it travels no
distance in the horizontal direction.
Horizontal range = 0
B. Projectile fired horizontaly : O u
X
Consider OX, a horizontal line parallel to ground and OY is


Trajectary
a vertical line perpendicular to ground. Suppose an object


be projected from the point O, above the ground with y

velocity u horizontally (i.e. along OX), such that X0 = 0 and
Y0 = 0 when t = 0. Soon after projection, the object will move


under the combined effect of two independent perpendicular Y x P


velocities. Ground projectile fired horizontally

(i) Horizontal velocity : Horizontal velocity u which remains constant throughout the motion.
(i.e. the horizontal velocity is uniform in nature)
(ii)Vertical velocity : This is non uniform and in increases due to g. Initial value of this velocity
at O is zero.
Thus the projectile moves under the action of uniform and a nonuniform velocity acting at
right angle to each other.

78
 Physics /JSC Projectile
Equation of Trajectory : It is an equation connecting the horizontal and vertical distances
travelled by the projectile.
Horizontal equation of motion,
We know, s = ut + (½) at2
For horizontal motion, a = 0 , s = x thus horizontal equation of motion is x = ut ------------ (1)
Vertical equation of motion (non uniform) is
y = 0 x t + (½) gt2
y = (½) gt2 --------------------- (2)
From eqn (1) t = x/u
Using t = x/u in eqn (2) we get,
x2
y = (½) g ——
u2
u2
x2 = —— y
g
 2u2

x2 = ky ------------------------ (3)   —— = constant
 g 
This is the equation of parabola. Hence the path of the projectile is parabolic.
Time of flight :
It is the total time for which the projectile is in flight i.e. the time taken by object to go from
O to P (It is also known as time of descent).
Taking vertical downward motion of object from O to P (i.e. motion of object along OY direction),
we have,
Initial velocity u = 0
Acceleration = g
Time = t
Distance travelled = h
Applying kinematic equation,
s = ut + ½ at2
h = 0 + ½ gt2
2h
t2 = ——
g

79
 Physics /JSC Projectile
2h
t = —— ------------------------ (4)
g
Horizontal range : It is the distance travelled by the projectile in the horizontal direction.
Since motion of projectile in horizontal direction is uniform, horizontal range x is given by,
x = ut ( a = 0)
Using equation (4) in the above equation we get,
2h
x = u —— -------------------- (5)
g
Instantaneous Velocity : It is the resultant velocity of the projectile, at any instant, during its
journey along the parabolic path.
Let A be the position of the projectile at any instant of time. Its horizontal velocity remains the
same throughtout the motion while its vertical velocity under goes a change constantly.
Horizontal velocity ux = u represented by AB
u
Vertical velocity vy = uy + at = 0 + gt O 
A u
B
thus vy = gt vy 
v


The resultant velocity v is given by, C D

v= u +v x
2
y
2
= u +g t
2 2 2

Let the angle made by v with the horizontal.



Y x
BD gt P
tan = —— = ——
AB u
 gt 
 = tan–1—— ------------------- (6)
 u 
C. Projectile fired at an angle  with the horizontal : Consider a projectile fired with
velocity u, at an angle  with the horizontal. The projectile rises to the highest point P and falls
back at Q lying on the level of projection.
Resolve u into two components
(i) ucos along horizontal. This component is uniform since g has no component in this
direction.
(ii) usin along vertically upward direction. This component is non uniform, since g acts
exactly opposite to it.
The horizontal and vertical components are mutually perpendicular to each other.

80
 Physics /JSC Projectile
(i) Equation of trajectory :- Horizontal equation of motion (uniform),
x = velocity x time Y


y
x = (ucos) t ----------------- (1)


Vertical equation of motion (non-uniform) usin P
u
y = (usin) t – (½) gt ------- (2)
2



g ym
x
From eqn (1), t = ———  ucos X
ucos O  x x Q
x 1 x2 (Projectile fired at an angle
Thus y = usin ———— – –— g ———— with the horizontal)
u cos 2 u2cos2
1 x2
y = xtan – —– g ———— ------------------------ (3)
2 u2cos2
This is the equation of a parabola, hence the path of a projectile projected at some angle with
the horizontal direction from ground is a parabolic path.
Time of ascent (t) : It is the time taken by the projectile to rise to the heighest point.
Consider themotion in vertical direction only.
At O final vertical velocity = usin
At P final vertical velocity = 0
Acceleration = – g
time = t
Applying kinematic relation, v = u + at
0 = usin – gt
gt = usin
usin
t = ——— ------------------------ (4)
g
Total time of flight : It is the time taken by the projectile to come back to the same level from
which it was projected.
Since the motion from O to P and that from P to Q is symmetric with respect to each
other, total time of flight is twice the time taken to reach the highest point.
T=2t
2usin
T = ——— ------------------------ (5)
g

81
 Physics /JSC Projectile
Maximum height : (ym) : It is the maximum distance travelled by the projectile in vertical
direction.
Let us condider the motion of the projectile in vertical direction only.
At O, initial velocity = usin Acceleration = – g
At P, final velocity = 0
Vertical distance travelled = ym
Applying Kinematic relation, v2 – u2 = 2as
0 – (usin)2 = – 2gym
u2sin2
ym = ————
2g
u2sin2
Maximum height ym = ———– ---------------------- (6)
2g
Horizontal range (x) : It is the distance travelled by the projectile in the horizontal direction.
The horizontal range is travelled due to the horizontal component of velocity which is
uniform.
x = horizontal velocity x total time of flight
2usin u2 2sincos
= ucos x ———— = ——————
g g
u2sin2
x = ———– --------------------------- (7)
g

Condition for maximum horizontal range : From eqn (7) it is clear that horizontal range
depends upon u and . For a fixed u, range can be changed by changing . Range will be
maximum if sin2 is maximum i.e. one.
sin2 = 1 = sin90°
2 = 90° or = 45°
which is the condition for maximum horizontal range.
u2 x 1 u2
xmax = ——— = —— --------------------- (8)
g g
Two angles of projection for the same horizontal range : When an object is projected
with velocity u making an angle with the horizontal direction, then horizontal range will be,

82
 Physics /JSC Projectile

u2 sin2
x1 = ———— ------------------- (9)
g
When an object is projected with velocity u making an angle (90° – 0) with the horizontal
direction then horizontal range will be,
u2 sin2(90° – ) u2
x2 = ———————— = —— sin (180° – 2)
g g
u 2
x2 = —— sin2 ----------------------- (10)
g
From eqn (9) and (10) we note that
x1 = x2
Thus the horizontal range is the same whether the angle of projection of an object is or
(90° – ) with the horizontal direction. This indicates that for a given velocity there are two
angles of projection for which the horizontal range is the same. An angle of projection (90° –
) with the horizontal is equivalent to an angle with the vertical. It implies that the horizontal
range is the same whether is the angle of projection with the horizontal or with the vertical
(fig-2).
Fig-1 shows that horizontal range is maximum for = 45°, for = 15° and 75° the horizontal
ranges are the same but less than the maximum horizontal range.

Y


=75°
Y

height 

height 

=60°


=45° 
=30° 
 90° – 
=15°
X X
O Range  O Range 

Fig-1 Fig-2

Instantaneous velocity : At any instant, during the flight of the projectile, its velocity consists
of two components.
(i) Constant velocity parallel to OX.

83
 Physics /JSC Projectile
(ii) Uniformly changing velocity, parallel to OY.
Due to gravity, the velocity of projectile along OY goes on decreasing upto H. At H
vertical component velocity becomes zero. From H to B, the velocity along OY goes on
increasing. After a time t, let the projectile be at P.
vx = ucos
vy = usin – gt
Since vx and vy are mutually perpendicular to each other, resultant velocity v is given by,
v = vx2 + vy2 = (ucos)2 + (usin – gt)2
Y


= u2cos2 + u2sin2 + g2 t2 – 2ugtsin
= u2 (cos2 + sin2) + g2 t2 – 2ugtsin
M v H
v = u2 + g2 t2 – 2ugt sin 



vy
 vx


vy usin – gt L 
tan = —– = —————  P


vx ucos 
usin

 usin– gt 
 = tan–1  ——–––––  ------ (11) 
 X
 ucos  B
O ucos (A body projected at
an angle with horizontal)

ASSIGNMENT :
1. A projectile is thrown with a velocity of 200 m/s in the upward direction making an
angle of 60° with the horizontal. Find the time after which the inclination is 30°
with horizontal.
2. Calculate the horizontal range covered by a stone thrown with a velocity of
30 m/s inclined at an angle of 45° with the horizontal.
3. What is the shape of trajectory of a projectile ?
4. From a certain height, two balls are released simultaneously. One allowed to fall
freely and the other thrown with some horizontal velocity. Will they hit the ground
simultaneously.
5. Find the value of angle of projection at which the horizontal range and the maximum
height of the projectile are equal.

84
Physics /JSC Projectile

6. A stone is dropped from the window of a box moving on a straight road with a
speed of 60 km/h from a height of 196 cm above the ground. Find the distance
along the road which the stone travels before it strikes the ground.
7. A projectile is thrown with a velocity of 200 m/s in the upward direction making
an angle of 60° with the horizontal. Find the time after which the inclination is 30°
with horizontal.
8. Calculate the horizontal range covered by a stone thrown with a velocity of
30 m/s inclined at an angle of 45° with the horizontal.
9. A bomber plane flying with a speed of 360 km/h at a height of 500 m drops a
bomb which hits the target. Find the distance of the target from the point just
below it.
10. Show that the sum of the heights attained by two projectiles projected with the
same speed at angles complementary to each other is independent of the angle
of projection.
11. A hunter aims his gun and fires directly at a monkey sitting in a tree. The moment
the bullet leaves the barrel of the gun, the monkey falls. Will the bullet hit the
monkey.
12. Can the direction of the velocity of a body change while its acceleration is constant ?
13. Why the direction of the projectile motion becomes horizontal at the highest point
on the projectile path.
14. A cricketer can throw a ball to a maximum horizontal of 100m. How much high
above the ground can the cricketer throw the same ball ?
15. What is an angle of projection for a projectile thrown parallel to horizontal ?
Important Long-questions :
1. What do you mean by the projectile ? Give examples to show that the path traced
out by abody in the horizontal direction with a uniform velocity from the top of a
tower, is a parabola. Also obtain expression for the velocity of the projectile at any
instant.
2. If a projectile is released with a velocity is at an angle with the horizontal, what
is the maximum height to which it will rise ? Calculate the horizontal range covered
by a stone thrown with velocity of 30 m/s inclined at an angle of 45° with the
horizontal.

85