PROJECTILES

When a marble is projected off the edge of a table, it travels with a uniform velocity in the horizontal
direction and accelerates uniformly downward due to gravity. The horizontal velocity remains constant as
the acceleration remains constant as the acceleration due to gravity has no component in the horizontal
direction.
U Sin 𝜃

0 𝜃 H y

x
U Cosᶿ
R
y = Any distance along the motion but not the maximum height
H = Maximum height
𝜃 = Angle Projected
U = Velocity which the body is projected in
y = U sin 𝜃 component of U
x = U cos 𝜃 component of U
The motion of a projectile can be studied by looking at the vertical component and the horizontal
component of the motion individually. If the object is projected with a velocity (u) at an angle 𝜃 to the
horizontal, the horizontal component of velocity remains unchanged at U Cos 𝜃. The initial vertical
component of velocity is U Sin 𝜃.
Initial velocity = U Sin θ
Acceleration = -g
At H = Maximum height reached, at the maximum height, the vertical component of the velocity becomes
0.
Using v2 = u2 + 2aS
0 = (U Sin 𝜃)2 – 2gH
 𝑈 2 𝑆𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
Therefore, maximum height reached =
2𝑔

Let the time taken to reach maximum height be t1

At any time (t) the height y of the object is given by the formula
S = ut + ½ at2
y = (U sin θ)t - ½ gt2
When the object lands on the ground, the vertical displacement is 0. Let T = time of flight
Time of flight: This is the total time of projectile motion.
Using S = ut + ½ at2
0 = (U Sin θ) T - ½ gT2
2U Sin 𝜃
Therefore, time of the flight, T = = 2t1
𝑔

This implies that the time for the object to go to its maximum height is the same as the time taken by it to
move from the maximum height to the ground.
Considering the horizontal component of motion, horizontal component of velocity = U Cos 𝜃 = constant.
At any time t, the horizontal displacement
x = (U Cos θ) t
In particular, the range R of the projectile is
R = (U Cos θ)T
2U Sin 𝜃
(U Cos θ)
𝑔

𝑈 2 Sin 2𝜃
R=
𝑔

𝑈2
The maximum value of R = and it occurs when Sin 2𝜃 = 1, or 2𝜃 = 90o, Therefore, 𝜃 = 45o.
𝑔

Therefore, the maximum range is obtained if the object is projected at an angle 45° to the horizontal. The
path of a projectile is the shape of a parabola.
Example 1
An aeroplane flying in a straight line at a constant height of 500 m with a speed of 200 ms-1 drops an
object. The object takes a time (t) to reach the ground and travels a horizontal distance (d) in doing so.
Take g = 10 m/s2 and ignoring air resistance, what are the values of t and d?
Solution
200 m/s
500 m

d
When the object is released from the plane, it horizontal component of velocity = velocity of the plane =
200m/s.
For the vertical motion of the object, the initial velocity = 0, acceleration = g = 10m/s2 and displacement =
500m
Using S = ut + ½ at2
500 = 0 × t + ½ × 10 × t2
500/5 = 5 t2 /5
t2 = 100
t = √100
t = 10 s
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
For the horizontal motion, Speed = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑑
200 = 10

d = 2000 m
Example 2
Find the maximum velocity with which a missile can be projected from a military base to hit a target
500km away.
Solution
R = 500 km = 500 x 1000 = 500,000 m
𝑈 2 Sin 2𝜃
But R =
𝑔

Therefore, U2 = Rg (Sin 2𝜃 = 1)
U2 = Rg
U = √Rg = √500,000 x 10 = √5000000 = 2.236 m/s
Example 3
When a rifle is fixed horizontally at a target P on a screen at a range of 25 m, the bullet strikes the screen
at a point 5.0 mm below P. The screen is now moved to a distance of 50 m and the rifle again fired
horizontally at P in its now position. Assuming that air resistance may be neglected, what is the new
distance below P at which the screen would now be struck?
 50mm P second position target

Point of impact
25 m first position
target

50 m
Let V = velocity of the bullet when it leaves the rifle
25
Therefore, the time taken for the bullet to travel through a horizontal distance of 25 m, t1 = ,
𝑣

Consider vertical motion of the bullet

Using S = ut + ½ at²
25
5.0 x 10-3 = 0 + ½ g ( )² -------------------------------------------- (1)
𝑣
50
With the screen at 50 m from the rifle, time of travel t2 = 𝑣

Using S = ut + ½ at²
50
Now distance below P, h = 0 + ½ g ( )2………………………. (2)
𝑣

Equation (2) divided by (1)

HOME WORK
1. A ball is projected horizontally with a speed of 40ms-1 from the top of a cliff on the surface of the
earth. What will be its speed 3s later if there is no air resistance?
2. A bomber flies with a constant velocity of 50m/s at a constant height of 1000m such that it will
fly above a target on the ground. What is the horizontal distance of the bomber from the target so
that a bomb released from it will hit the target?