Kinematics
of Projectile
Motion
PREPARED BY: TYPE YOUR NAME HERE
Kinematics of Projectile
Motion
What is a projectile?
A body in free fall that is subject only to
the forces of gravity and air resistance
Motion of bodies flung into the air
Occurs in many activities, such as
baseball, diving, figure skating,
basketball, golf, and volleyball
A special case of linear kinematics
Kinematics of Projectile
Motion
Projectiles have different objectives
Time of flight
Maximum – tennis defensive lob, football punt,
springboard diving, ski/snowboard ariel tennis lob
Minimum – baseball infield throw, tennis volley
Maximum horizontal displacement (range) - javelin,
discus, shot put, long jump, triple jump, football
kickoff, golf drive,
Maximum vertical displacement (apex) – pole vault,
high jump, basketball jump ball
Factors Influencing Projectile
Trajectory
What factors influence the trajectory
(flight path) of a projectile?
• projection angle - the direction of
projection with respect to the
horizontal
Factors Influencing Projectile Trajectory
Trajectory shape
dependent on angle of
projection in absence of
air resistance.
If angle perfectly
vertical, trajectory also
vertical.
If angle oblique,
trajectory is parabolic.
If angle horizontal,
trajectory is half
parabola.
Factors Influencing Projectile
Trajectory
5
This scaled
diagram shows 4
the size and
Maximum height (m)
3
shape of
trajectories for 2
an object 1
projected at 10
0
m/s at different
angles. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Range (distance) (m)
Factors Influencing Projectile
Trajectory
The Effect of Projection Angle on Range
(Relative Projection Height = 0)
Projection Projection
Speed Angle Range
(m/s) (degrees) (m)
10 10 3.49
10 20 6.55
10 30 8.83
10 40 10.04
10 45 10.19
10 50 10.04
10 60 8.83
10 70 6.55
10 80 3.49
Factors Influencing Projectile
Trajectory
What factors influence the trajectory
(flight path) of a projectile?
• projection speed - the magnitude of
projection velocity
Factors Influencing Projectile Trajectory
When projection angle and
other factors constant,
projection speed determines
length of trajectory (range).
For vertical projectile, speed
determines apex.
For oblique projectile, speed
determines height of apex and
horizontal range.
Factors Influencing Projectile
Trajectory
What factors influence the trajectory
(flight path) of a projectile?
• relative projection height - the
difference between projection
height and landing height
Factors Influencing Projectile Trajectory
When projection speed is
constant, greater relative
projection height provides
longer flight time which
increases horizontal
displacement.
Taller shot putters can throw
farther than shorter ones even
if throw with same speed.
Factors Influencing Projectile
Trajectory
FACTORS INFLUENCING PROJECTILE MOTION
(Neglecting Air Resistance)
Variable Factors of Influence
Flight time Initial vertical velocity
Relative projection height
Horizontal displacement Horizontal velocity
Initial vertical velocity
Vertical displacement Relative projection height
Initial vertical velocity
Trajectory Initial speed
Projection angle
Relative projection height
Generalizations for Maximum Range
If purpose to maximize range,
optimum angle of landing is
always 45º.
If purpose to maximize range &
projection height is zero, the
optimum angle of projection
(and landing) is 45°.
If purpose to maximize range & projection
height is above landing (+), optimum
angle of projection less than 45°.
Projectile as a Vector
Initial velocity of projectile Standing
is a vector
Broad Jump
Speed (Magnitude)
take-off
Angle (Direction) P1 P2
Point of origin
Vector represented
graphically by:
Line of action
Initial velocity of projectile +
resolved into horizontal
and vertical components
If horizontal and vertical - +
components added,
resultant equals original
initial velocity -
Vector Components of
Projectile Motion
Why do we analyze the horizontal and
vertical components of projectile motion
separately?
(the vertical component is influenced
by gravity and the horizontal
component is not)
Vector Components of
Projectile
Motion
Horizontal component (V ) hash
certain velocity or magnitude.
Horizontal component (Vh)
remains constant throughout
flight, neglecting air resistance.
Horizontal velocity influences
range, but not time object in
air.
Kinematics of Projectile
Motion
Downward acceleration of a projectile same as
downward acceleration of a free falling body due
to constant
Two gravity.
balls - one dropped and one projected
horizontally from the same height:
Both land at the same time since gravity affects their
vertical velocities equally.
Kinematics of Projectile
Motion
Horizontal velocity (V ) does not affect vertical velocity (V ).
h v
(Vh) and (Vv) are independent of one another
Gravity affects vertical velocity (Vv).
What is the effect of gravity?
(The force of gravity produces a constant acceleration of -9.81 m/s2 or -32.2 ft/s2 on
bodies near the surface of the earth.)
Negative (-) vertical direction is downward.
Kinematics of Projectile Motion
The pattern of apex Vertical velocity
change in the decreases as the
vertical ball rises and
velocity of a increases as the
projectile is ball falls due to
symmetrical gravity the influence of
about the gravitational
apex. force.
Calculation of components
of velocity
At take-off in Horizontal component of velocity (v ): H
SBJ
cos θ = Adjacent / Hypotenuse
cos θ = vH / vR
vH = vR × cos θ
Vertical
vH = 3.2 × cos 23
component of
θ vH = 2.94 m·s-1
velocity (vV)
Horizontal
component of
Vertical component of velocity (vV):
velocity (vH)
sin θ = Opposite / Hypotenuse
sin θ = vV / vR
vV = vR × sin θ
vR = 3.2
vV = 3.2 × sin 23
m·s-1
vV = 1.25 m·s-1
θ = 23º
Equations of Constant
Acceleration
Three formulas interrelating the kinematic quantities – displacement,
velocity, acceleration, and time.
1. v2 = v1 + at
2. d = v1t + ½ at2
3. v22 = v12 + 2ad
The equation that you select to solve a problem must have the known quantities and
the unknown variable you wish to find.
Equations of Constant
Acceleration
If applied to horizontal projectile in which a = 0,
1. v2 = v1 + 0·t
2. d = v1t + ½ 0·t2
3. v22 = v12 + 2·0·d
If applied to vertical projectile free falling (v 1 =0),
4. v2 = v1 (0) + at
5. d = v1 (0) t + ½ at2
6. v22 = v12 (0) + 2ad
Summary
Variables used to describe motion are either:
Scalar (magnitude only: e.g. time, distance and speed)
Vector (magnitude and direction: e.g. displacement, velocity and
acceleration)
Displacement is the change in position of a body
Average velocity is the change in position divided by the
change in time
Average acceleration is the change in velocity divided by the
change in time
The resultant and angle of a vector variable can be calculated
from its horizontal and vertical components using Pythagorean
Theorem and trigonometry
The horizontal and vertical components of a vector variable can
be calculated from its resultant and angle using trigonometry
Content, images, text, etc. used
belong to the rightful owner. No
copyright infringement intended.
