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PROJECTILE MOTION
Projectile motion is a form of motion experienced by an object or particle that is thrown near the
Earth's surface and moves along a curved path under the action of gravity only. It forms a
parabolic curve or vertical motion.
Projectile is an object which when given an initial velocity moves under the influence of its own
weight e.g kicking a soccer ball, throwing a basket ball, hitting a golf ball, dropping an object
from a height etc The diagrams below show projectiles.
(a) Trajectory
A trajectory or flight path is the path that an object with mass in motion follows through space.
(b) Range
the total horizontal distance travelled by the projectile. R = ucos𝜽.t
(c) Time of flight
The amount of time it spends in the air is called the time of flight. If the ground from which
the projectile is launched is level, the time of flight only depends on the initial velocity v0, the
launch angle θ, and the acceleration due to gravity. The unit for the time of flight is seconds
(s).
The total time of flight is the total time the projectile takes to complete the flight. It is given by the
equation;
2uSin
[Link] of flight t
g
Greatest Height
This is the point at which the projectile is momentarily at rest. Therefore its final velocity is 0m/s.
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v y uSin gt
When the particle is at B, it is moving horizontal ly , i.e. v y 0
0 uSin gt
uSin
t (i.e. half the time of flight )
g
uSin
Re placingt by in equation (1) we have :
g
h utSin ½ gt 2
u sin
2
1
uSin .uSin
2 g
u 2 Sin 2
h
2g
u 2 Sin 2
i.e. the greatest height , h
2g
Summary of projectile behavior
Hence, at any time t during the flight, components of velocity are as follows
Horizontal componentVertical component
v x u x at vy u y ayt
uCos 0 v y uSin gt
v x uCos
The magnitude of the resultant velocity vector at any instant is:
v vx v y
2 2
at an angle of :
tan 1 v y / vx with the horizontal
Further, components of displacement are as follows:
Horizontal componentVertical component
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s x u x t ½ at 2 s y u y t ½ at 2
R utCos h utSin ½ gt 2
and
s sx s y at tan s y / s x with the horizontal
2 2
N. B. when solving problems:
1. It is advisable to sketch position – time graphs for the horizontal and vertical motion of a projectile.
2. Do not memorise these equations. It is best to start from first principles (linear motion equations).
Problems
1. An object is launched at a velocity of 20 m/s in a direction making an angle of 25°
upward with the horizontal.
a) What is the maximum height reached by the object?
b) What is the total flight time of the object?
c) What is the horizontal range of the object?
2. A ball is kicked at an angle 350 with the horizontal.
(a) What should be the initial velocity of the ball so that it hits a target that is 30
meters away at a height of 1.8 meters?
(b) Calculate the time taken by the ball to reach the target.
3. A stone is thrown vertically upwards at a speed of 10m/s at an angle of 300 to the
horizontal and 60 m above the sea. Find:
(a) The time of flight
(b) How far from the foot of the cliff does it strike the sea
(c) The velocity with which it strikes the water.
4. A stone is thrown from the top of a tower, which is 11 m high and stands on horizontal
ground. The speed of projection is 12 m/s at 600 with the vertical, downward. Find the
(a) time taken for the stone to reach the ground.
(b) direction of motion just before it hits the ground.
5. An arrow is shot with the velocity of 30 m/s at an angle of 300 above the horizontal. The
arrow is initially 2.0 m above the ground and 15.0 m from the wall.
(a) At what height above the ground does it hit the wall? [11.4m]
(b) Is still going up just before it hits the ground or its already on its way down?[
upwards, because the velocity is decreasing]
6. A bullet is fired upwards at an angle of 300 to the horizontal from a point P on a hill and it strikes
a target which is 80 m lower than point P. The initial velocity of the bullet is 100m/s. Calculate
the actual velocity with which the bullet will strike the target. [107.5m/s]