Topic

4
PROJECTILE MOTION

4.1. Introduction
A body that is projected through a gravitational field is known as a
projectile. We will look for the present at the case of an un-powered
projectile such as a stone and ignore the effects of air resistance.

The vertical acceleration is due to the gravitational attraction of the Earth

and is called the acceleration due to gravity (g).

Above the Earth's surface the value of g decreases as the distance from the
center of the Earth increases, but if we restrict our considerations to points
close to the Earth's surface its value is sensibly constant and has a value of
about 9.81 m/s2 (often simplified to 10 m/s2)

Since this acceleration is produced by the gravitational field of the Earth it

may also be called the gravitational intensity (units Nkg -1). The value of g
can vary due to the following factors:
(a) distance above sea level - g is less up a mountain or in a satellite
or plane;
(b) on the equator - the distance from the centre of the Earth is greater
here, because of the non-spherical shape of the Earth, and g is
smaller;
(c) above mineral deposits there is a greater attraction and so g is
larger;
(d) the centripetal force of the rotating Earth causes a variation in g
from Equator to pole.

4.2. Object projected vertically upwards

We will look first at the case of an object that is projected vertically
upwards.

Initial vertical velocity = voy

We will call time of flight 2t, (in other words the time to return to the
ground again) and so the time to reach the top is t. You should understand
that it will take the same time for the projectile to reach the top of its path
as it will to return to the ground again.

Velocity at the top of the path (vy) = 0, it is not moving at this point.

1. Maximum height reached (h)

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 Since the time to reach the maximum height is the same for an
object released from rest at that height to fall to the ground we can use:

Using, h = -½ gt2

Alternatively if we know the initial velocity.

v2 = vo2 + 2ad with d = h and v = 0 at the top of the path and a = -g then:

h = vo2/2g

notice the negative sign because the object is slowing down as it rises, g acts
in the opposite direction to the velocity of the projectile. Also remember that
the acceleration of the projectile is 9.8 m/s2 towards the ground throughout
the trajectory, even at the very top.

Example problem
A ball is thrown vertically upwards with an initial velocity at 30 m/s.
Calculate:
(a) the maximum height reached; and,
(b) the time taken for it to return to the ground

(a) Using vy2 = voy2 - 2gh

0 = 900m/s – 2(9.8m/s 2)h
h = −900 m/ s
2
−19.6 m/s
h = 45.91 m

Notice that at the maximum height the vertical velocity is zero and that the
acceleration due to gravity is negative since it acts to retard the ball.

(b) Using vy = voy - gt,

0 = 30m/s – 9.8t ↓
−30 m/ s = t↓
2
−9.8 m/s
t↓ = 3s

t =2t↓ = 6s

Remember that the ball must return to the ground with the same speed with
which it left it.

2. Any other height than the maximum

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 h = voyt - ½ gt2
vy2 = voy2 - 2gh

where as before when the numbers are put into the equation g = - 9.8 ms - 2.

Example problem
A balloon is going up at a steady velocity of 12 m/s at a height of 32 m
above the ground when an object is dropped from it.
How long does it take for the object to reach the ground?

Consider first the time taken to return to the 32 m level.

vy = -12m/s and voy = 12m/s

(notice the minus sign that allows for the different direction of v oy and vy. It
does not matter which one you choose to be minus as long as g is also made
plus or minus).
Therefore taking g = 9.8 m/s2

Using: vy = voy - gt spacwe have:

-12m/s = 12m/s - 9.8t

−24 m/ s = t↑
2
−9.8 m/s

t↑ = 2.45s

Now it falls to the ground.

Using d = voyt - ½gt2 space 32m = (12m/s) t- ½ (9.8m/s2) t2

This is solved to give t = 1.65 or - 4.00s.

The negative value indicates a time before it passed the 32 m level, which is
clearly of no physical significance here.
Therefore the total time = 1.6 s +2.45 s = 4s

4.3. Object projected horizontally

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 This page looks at an object projected horizontally from a cliff with a
velocity u (vo). The problem is to find out where this object will be after a
time t and how fast it will be travelling and in what direction. (See Figure 1)

The important thing to remember is that you can consider the motion in two
parts :-
(a) motion in the horizontal direction - this is uniform velocity since no
forces act in this direction
(b) motion in the vertical direction - this is uniformly accelerated motion
due to the gravitational pull of the Earth, the vertical acceleration being the
strength of the Earth's field (g = 9.8 m/s2). Remember that this always acts
vertically downwards.

We will ignore air resistance for the time being.

Consider the horizontal motion:

The velocity after time t = vx = u (vox) since there is no horizontal acceleration

The horizontal distance travelled s (dx)= horizontal velocity (vx) x time (t) = ut
= voxt (1)

Now consider the vertical motion:

The initial vertical velocity uy (voy) = 0 and so the vertical velocity after a time
t is given by
Vy = voy - gt

Therefore, vy = - gt

The vertical distance travelled h (dy) = voyt - ½(gt2) =- ½(gt2) since voy = 0
(2)

Using Pythogoras' theorem the velocity (v) after a time t can be found from
the equation:

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Velocity(v) after a time t = (vx2 + vy2)1/2 =√ v 2x + v 2y (3)

The direction of motion at any point after time t is given by the equation:

Direction of motion after time t tan = vy/vx (4)

where  is the angle that the trajectory makes with the horizontal at that
point.

Example problems
A ball is thrown horizontally with an initial velocity of 6 m/s from an open
window that is 4m above the ground.
Calculate:
(a) the time it takes to hit the ground
(b) the distance from the wall where it hits the ground
(c) the velocity (magnitude and direction 0.5 seconds after it is thrown.
(Ignore air resistance in your calculations and take g = 9.8 m/s 2).

(a) Using h (dy) = -½ gt2 -4 = -½(9.8)t2 and so t = 0.904 s = 0.90 s

(b) Using s (dx) = vxt = voxt = 6m/s (0.904s) = 5.42 m

(c) Vertical velocity after 0.5 s. vy= 0 - gt = -(9.8m/s2)(0.5s = -4.9 m/s

Velocity after 0.5s = [(-4.9 m/s)2 + (6m/s)2]1/2 = 7.75 m/s

Direction of motion: tan  = 4.92m/s/6m/s = 0.82 and so  = 39.4o

Combining equations (1) and (2) we can get an equation for the path as a
whole.
From (1) t = d/v and substituting this in (2) we have:

The vertical distance travelled (h) = ½(gt2 = ½(gd2/v2) = d2[½(g/v2)] (5)

so h is proportional to s2 and this is the equation of a parabola. All objects

projected through gravitational fields travel in parabolas if we ignore the
effects of air resistance.

The time taken for the object to reach the ground along the parabolic path is
the same as if it were dropped vertically.

The parabolic path for an object projected horizontally is shown in Figure 2.

Notice that if air resistance is ignored the vertical height of the object at
given times after the start is the same no matter what horizontal velocity it
had at the moment of release.

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4.4. Object Projected at an angle
Consider now the case of an object that is projected at an angle to the
horizontal other than 90o.
It is helpful to treat the horizontal and vertical components of velocity
separately. A diagram of the motion is shown in Figure 1.
Consider an object projected with velocity u at an angle A to the horizontal.

Vertical component of
velocity = u sin A or

vo sinA
Horizontal component of
velocity = u cos A or

vo cos A

If we ignore the effects of air

resistance, the horizontal
velocity is constant and the
vertical velocity changes
with a uniform acceleration.
The path that the body
follows is a parabola as can be seen from the proof below.

Vertical motion: h = ut sin A – ½ gt2 or dy = vot sin A – ½ gt2

Horizontal motion: s = ut cos A or dx = vot cos A

(a) Range

The object will hit the ground again when h = 0, i.e. when ut sin A = ½
gt2.
Therefore it will hit the ground after a time t, where t = 2u sin A/g or t =
2vo sinA/g

Therefore the range R is given by:

R = horizontal velocity x time = [ucos A x 2u sin A]/g = [u 2 2 sin A cos
A]/g = u2sin 2A/g

Range = u2sin 2A/g or Range = vo2sin2A/g

The maximum range for a given velocity of projection is when sin 2A = 1,

that is, when 2A = 90o or when A = 45o

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 (b) Height

The projectile will reach its maximum height when the vertical component of
its velocity is zero, that is, when:
u sin A - gt = 0, or t = u sin [A/g]

This gives the maximum height (H) reached as: H = [u2sin2 A]/2g

Maximum height reached H = [u2sin2A]/2g or H = vo2sin2A/2g

Example problem
A stone is projected at an angle of 60o to the horizontal with a velocity of 30
m/s.
Calculate
(a) the highest point reached,
(b) the range,
(c) the time taken for the flight,
(d) the height of the stone at the instant that the path makes an angle of
30o with the horizontal.

(a) Highest point = (30m/s)2 sin2 600/2g = (900 m2/s2 ) (0.75)/19.6m/s2 =

33.75m.

(b)Range = (30m/s)2 sin 120o/9.8m/s2 = (900m/s) (0.866)/9.8 m/s2 = 78 m.

(c)Time of flight = 2 (30m/s) sin60o/9.8 m/s2 = 5.2 s

(d) At the point when the path makes an angle of 30o to the horizontal we
have:
tan 30o = vertical component of velocity/ horizontal component of velocity =
vertical component/30m/s cos60
The vertical component (v) is given by the formula. v 2 =(30m/s)2sin260o -
(2x9.8 m/s2xh)=(900m2/s2x 0.75)- (20m/s2)h where h is the height reached
at that point.
Therefore tan 30o = [675 - 20h]/15 15 x 0.58 = 675 – 20h 8.66 = 675 -
20h
20h = 666.3 h = 33.3 m

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Example problem
An aeroplane flies at a height h at a
constant speed u in a straight
horizontal line, so as to pass vertically
over a certain gun. At the instant
when the aeroplane is directly over it
the gun fires a shell which hits the
plane.

Find the minimum muzzle velocity (v)

of the shell and the correct angle of elevation (A) of the gun at this velocity
(neglecting air resistance).

If we require the minimum muzzle velocity, then the height of the plane
when it is hit must be the maximum height reached by the shell, in other
words the vertical component of its velocity must be zero when it hits the
plane.

Therefore 0 = v2sin2 A –2gh Therefore: 0 = v2(1 - cos2 A) - 2gh

But u = vcos A
v2 = u2+2gh v =(u2 + 2gh)1/2 and this gives tanA = [2gh]1/2/u

Trajectory – parabolic path

The shape of the trajectory can be found by combining the equations for
vertical and horizontal velocity.
Taking the vertical displacement as y and the horizontal displacement as x,
we have.
x = ut cos A
y = ut sin A – ½ gt 2

This gives: y = x tanA – gx2/2u2 cos2A

For a given angle of projection (A) and projection velocity (u), this becomes:
y = Bx - Cx2
where B and C are constants (B = tanA and C = g/2u2 cos2A) ; this is the
equation of a parabola.

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The above equations only refer to projectiles where the effects of air
resistance have been ignored. Quite different paths may be found in practice
for such objects as golf balls, javelins and discoi.

4.5. Projectiles and Air Resistance

Objects moving through air are slowed down due to air resistance,
sometimes called drag. This air resistance affects a spacecraft when it re-
enters the Earth's atmosphere but also the path of a projectile such as a
bullet or a ball. When air resistance is taken into account the trajectory of a
projectile is changed. The resistance is often taken as being proportional to
either the velocity of the object or the square of the velocity of the object.

The medieval scientists believed that a projectile went upwards at an angle

along a straight path, then went through a short curved section before
falling vertically back to the ground again.

Both the range of a projectile and the maximum height that it reaches are
affected by air resistance. The mathematics of the motion is quite
complicated (especially if you consider the change in the shape and/or
surface of a projectile and the variation of the density of the air with height)
but the following diagrams try to simplify things by showing generally how
air resistance affects both the trajectory and the velocity of a projectile.

The blue lines show the projectile with no air resistance and the red lines
show what happens when air resistance is taken into account. The
maximum height, the range and the velocity of the projectile are all reduced.

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4.6. A Projectile Problem

A boy stands on the edge of a 100m high cliff and shoots a projectile (A)
vertically upwards at 30 ms-1. One second later his friend at the base of the
cliff shoots a second projectile (B) vertically upwards at 50 ms - 1.

Determine:
(a) the height above the ground at the base of the cliff where the two
projectiles pass each other
(b) the time after the projectile A was launched that this happens
(c) the velocities of projectile A and B when they pass each other

Let the time after projectile A is launched until they pass each other be t
and let the height above the ground when this happens be h.

Take g = 9.8 ms- 2.

For projectile A: h = 100 + 30t + ½ gt2 equation 1

For projectile B: h = 50(t-1) + ½ g(t-1)2 equation 2
Therefore: 100 + 30t + ½ gt2 = 50(t-1) + ½ g(t-1)2 = 50t – 50 + ½ x 9.8 x (t2 –
2t +1)
So remembering that g will be negative if the velocities upwards are
positive:
100 + 30t + ½ gt2 = 59.8t – 54.9 + ½ gt2
154.9 = 29.8t and so t = 5.2 s

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Substituting for t in equation 1 gives: h = 100 + 30x5.2 – ½ x9.8x5.2 2
h = 255.91 - 132.39 = 123.5 m

The projectiles pass each other when they are 123.5 m above the
ground

Checking this using equation 2 also gives h = 123.5 m

Velocity of A at h = 123.5 m
v = u –gt = 30 – 9.8x5.2 = -20.1 ms-1 A is travelling downwards

Velocity of B at h = 123.5 m
v = u –gt = 50 – 9.8x4.2 = +8.84 ms-1 B is travelling upwards

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ACTIVITIES

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 Projectiles 1

In these problems ignore air resistance and take g = 9.8 ms-2

1.A crate is released from an aircraft that is flying horizontally at a steady

speed of 200 ms-1 1500 m above the ground:

(a) What is its horizontal velocity:

(i) 2 s after it was released

(ii) 5 s after it was released

(b) What is its vertical velocity:

(i) 2 s after it was released

(ii) 5 s after it was released

(c) what is its velocity (magnitude and direction 5s after it was released?

(d) how long will it take to reach the ground?

(e) how far horizontally from the place where it was released will it hit the
ground?

2. If you had taken air resistance into account how would this have affected
your answers to (c) and (e)?

3. A projectile is fired from a siege engine at 35 ms -1 at an angle of 60o to the

horizontal:

(a) what is its vertical velocity at the top of its flight?

(b) what is its horizontal velocity at the top of its flight?

(c) what is its horizontal velocity 5 s after it is fired?

(d) what is its vertical velocity 5s after it is fired?

(e) what is its overall velocity 5s after it is fired (magnitude and direction
needed here)

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4. A stone is dropped from a balloon which is floating at a height of 50m
above the ground. At the same instant another stone is thrown horizontally
from the balloon at 8 ms-1.

(a) which one will hit the ground first?

(b) how fast (magnitude and direction) will each stone be travelling when it
hits the ground?

5. Draw an accurate graph to show the parabolic path of a projectile

projected horizontally from a cliff.

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 PROJECTILES 2

(Take g = 9.8 ms-2 and ignore frictional effects in all problems)

1. A man stands on a 20 m high cliff and throws a stone horizontally at 15

ms-1.

Calculate:

(a) how long it will take the stone to hit the ground

(b) how far out from the case of the cliff the stone will land

(c) its velocity (magnitude and direction) when it lands

(d) the height when its motion is at 10o to the horizontal

(e) its position and velocity (magnitude and direction) 1.5 s after launch

2. A stone is projected upwards at 25 m/s at an angle of 30o relative to the

positive x-axis.

Calculate:

(a) the maximum height to which it rises;

(b) its horizontal range;

(c) the velocity (magnitude and direction when it hits the ground; and,

(d) the time of flight.

3. A ball is thrown upwards at 15 ms-1 at 40o relative to the positive x-axis.

Calculate:

(a) the maximum height to which it rises;

(b) its horizontal range; and,

(c) the time of flight.

4. Show that the maximum range for a given projectile occurs when the
angle of projection is 45o if the effects of air are ignored.

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5. A projectile with an initial velocity of 30 ms -1 at an angle of 30o to the
horizontal hits a vertical cliff in its path at right angles. How far away from
the base of the cliff was the projectile launched?

6. An aeroplane flies at a height h at a constant speed u in a straight

horizontal line so as to pass vertically over a certain gun. At the instant
when the aeroplane is a height h, vertically above it the gun fires a shell
which just strikes the plane.

Find:

(a) the minimum muzzle velocity (v) and

(b) the correct angle of elevation (A) of the gun barrel.

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