MOTION OF A PROJECTILE
Today’s Objectives:
Students will be able to: In-Class Activities:
1. Analyze the free-flight • Check Homework
motion of a projectile. • Reading Quiz
• Applications
• Kinematic Equations for
Projectile Motion
• Concept Quiz
• Group Problem Solving
• Attention Quiz
READING QUIZ
1. The downward acceleration of an object in free-flight
motion is
A) zero B) increasing with time
C) 9.81 m/s2. D) 9.81 ft/s2
2. The horizontal component of velocity remains _________
during a free-flight motion.
A) zero B) constant.
C) at 9.81 m/s2 D) at 32.2 ft/s2
MOTION OF A PROJECTILE
Projectile motion can be treated as two rectilinear
motions, one in the horizontal direction experiencing
zero acceleration and the other in the vertical
direction experiencing constant acceleration (i.e.,
from gravity).
KINEMATIC EQUATIONS: HORIZONTAL MOTION
Since ax = 0, the velocity in the horizontal direction remains
constant (vx = vox) and the position in the x direction can be
determined by:
x = xo + (vox) t
Why is ax equal to zero (what assumption must be made if the movement is
through the air)?
KINEMATIC EQUATIONS: VERTICAL MOTION
Since the positive y-axis is directed upward, ay = – g.
Application of the constant acceleration equations yields:
vy = voy – g t
y = yo + (voy) t – ½ g t2
vy2 = voy2 – 2 g (y – yo)
APPLICATIONS
A good kicker instinctively knows at what angle, q, and initial
velocity, vA, he must kick the ball to make a field goal.
For a given kick “strength”, at what angle should the ball be
kicked to get the maximum distance?
APPLICATIONS (continued)
A basketball is shot at a certain angle. What parameters should
the shooter consider in order for the basketball to pass through
the basket?
APPLICATIONS (continued)
A firefighter needs to know the maximum height on the wall
she can project water from the hose. What parameters would
you program into a wrist computer to find the angle, q, that
she should use to hold the hose?
A firefighter 50.0 m away from a burning building directs a stream
of water from a fire hose at an angle of 30° above the horizontal. If
the velocity stream is 40.0 m/s, at what height will the stream of
water strike the building?
EXAMPLE I
Given: vA and θ
Find: Horizontal distance it
travels and vC.
Plan: Apply the kinematic relations in x-
and y-directions.
Solution: Using vAx = 10 cos 30 and vAy = 10 sin 30
We can write vx = 10 cos 30
vy = 10 sin 30 – (9.81) t
x = (10 cos 30) t
y = (10 sin 30) t – ½ (9.81) t2
Since y = 0 at C
0 = (10 sin 30) t – ½ (9.81) t2 t = 0, 1.019 s
EXAMPLE I (continued)
Only the time of 1.019 s makes sense!
Velocity components at C are;
vCx = 10 cos 30
= 8.66 m/s →
vCy = 10 sin 30 – (9.81) (1.019)
= -5 m/s = 5 m/s
vC = 8.662 + (−5)2 =10 m/s
Horizontal distance the ball travels is;
x = (10 cos 30) t
x = (10 cos 30) 1.019 = 8.83 m
EXAMPLE II
Given: Projectile is fired with vA=150 m/s
at point A.
Find: The horizontal distance it travels (R) and the
time in the air.
Plan: How will you proceed?
EXAMPLE II
Given: Projectile is fired with vA=150 m/s
at point A.
Find: The horizontal distance it travels (R) and the
time in the air.
Plan: Establish a fixed x, y coordinate system (in this solution,
the origin of the coordinate system is placed at A).
Apply the kinematic relations in x- and y-directions.
EXAMPLE II (continued)
Solution:
1) Place the coordinate system at point A.
Then, write the equation for horizontal motion.
+ → xB = xA + vAx tAB
where xB = R, xA = 0, vAx = 150 (4/5) m/s
Range, R, will be R = 120 tAB
2) Now write a vertical motion equation. Use the distance equation.
+ yB = yA + vAy tAB – 0.5 g tAB2
where yB = – 150, yA = 0, and vAy = 150(3/5) m/s
We get the following equation: –150 = 90 tAB + 0.5 (– 9.81) tAB2
Solving for tAB first, tAB = 19.89 s.
Then, R = 120 tAB = 120 (19.89) = 2387 m
GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING I
y Given: A skier leaves the ski
x jump ramp at qA = 25o
and hits the slope at B.
Find: The skier’s initial speed vA.
Plan:
GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING I (continued)
Solution:
Motion in x-direction:
Using xB = xA + vox(tAB) (4/5)100 = 0 + vA (cos 25) tAB
tAB= 80 88.27
=
vA (cos 25) vA
Motion in y-direction:
Using yB = yA + voy(tAB) – ½ g(tAB)2
88.27 88.27 }2
– 64 = 0 + vA(sin 25) { } – ½ (9.81) {
vA vA
60m+4m vA = 19.42 m/s
tAB= (88.27 / 19.42) = 4.54 s
GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING II
Given: The golf ball is struck
with a velocity of 80
ft/s as shown.
y Find: Distance d to where it
will land.
x
Plan:
GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING II
Given: The golf ball is struck
with a velocity of 80
ft/s as shown.
y Find: Distance d to where it
will land.
x
Plan: Establish a fixed x, y coordinate system (in this solution,
the origin of the coordinate system is placed at A).
Apply the kinematic relations in x- and y-directions.
GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING II (continued)
Solution:
Motion in x-direction:
Using xB = xA + vox(tAB)
y
check, cos55deg d cos10 = 0 + 80 (cos 45) tAB
x
tAB = 0.02146 d
Motion in y-direction:
Using yB = yA + voy(tAB) – ½ g(tAB)2
check, sin55 deg d sin10 = 0 + 80(sin 45)(0.02146 d) – ½ 32.2 (0.02146 d)2
0 = 1.233 d – 0.007415 d2
d = 0, 166 ft Only the non-zero answer is meaningful.
ATTENTION QUIZ
1. A projectile is given an initial velocity
vo at an angle f above the horizontal.
The velocity of the projectile when it
hits the slope is ____________ the
initial velocity vo.
A) less than. B) equal to
C) greater than D) None of the above
2. A particle has an initial velocity vo at angle f with respect to the
horizontal. The maximum height it can reach is when
A) f = 30° B) f = 45°
C) f = 60° D) f = 90°
ATTENTION QUIZ
1. A projectile is given an initial velocity
vo at an angle f above the horizontal.
The velocity of the projectile when it
hits the slope is ____________ the
initial velocity vo.
A) less than. B) equal to
C) greater than D) None of the above
2. A particle has an initial velocity vo at angle f with respect to the
horizontal. The maximum height it can reach is when
A) f = 30° B) f = 45°
C) f = 60° D) f = 90°