Motion in 2
Dimensions
---
Horizontal
Projectile
Motion
HORIZONTAL PROJECTILE MOTION
An object is launched with an
initial horizontal velocity of v1x
The initial vertical velocity is zero
v1y = 0
The object accelerates in the vertical
direction due to gravity
Example Situation
a skateboarder rolls off a horizontal
platform to jump a flight of stairs
c
c
HORIZONTAL PROJECTILE MOTION
The object's motion is analyzed by
considering the 2 dimensions
(horizontal & vertical) independently.
Horizontal motion = UM
(no acceleration)
Vertical motion = UARM
(like a dropped object)
Example of horizontal projectile motion
High-speed strobe photography is used to
captures the image of a single object as it
is projected horizontally
HORIZONTAL DIRECTION - the object moves a
constant distance during each time interval
=> no acceleration => uniform motion
VERTICAL DIRECTION - the object moves an
increasing distance during each time interval
=> acceleration due to gravity => dropped object
When observed in 2 dimensions the
trajectory of the object is in the form of
a PARABOLA
V!
V"
V(t)
At any point in time during its motion,
the object’s velocity can be resolved
into two components
HPM Position Equations
Horizontal Direction
"#!
UARM “all inclusive” => d(t) = d! + v! t +
$
#! $"
Horizontal components => d! (t) = d"! + v"! t +
%
initial position at zero d"! = 0 no acceleration a! = 0
d! (t) = v"! t
Note: this is the uniform motion position equation
HPM Position Equations
Vertical Direction
## $"
Vertical components => d& (t) = d"& + v"& t +
%
initial position at zero d"& = 0
zero initial velocity v"& = 0
acceleration due to gravity a& = g
'$"
d& (t) =
%
Note: this is the dropped object position equation
time (t) has the same value
equal in both dimensions
tx = t y = t
Example
A rock is thrown horizontally at 10m/s from a
122.5 m cliff.
a) How long does it take to fall?
b) How far does it travel horizontally?
Example 1
A rock is thrown horizontally at 10m/s from a
122.5 m cliff.
v1x = +10 m/s v1y = 0
ax = 0 ay = -9.81 m/s2
d1y = 0 d2y = -122.5 m
d1x = 0
a) How long does it take to fall?
t=?
b) How far does it go horizontally?
d2X = ?
Example 1
A rock is thrown horizontally at 10m/s from a
122.5 m cliff.
v1x = +10 m/s v1y = 0
ax = 0 ay = -9.81 m/s2
d1y = 0 m d2y = -122.5 m
a) How long does it take to fall? t=?
'$"
d& (t) =
%
t=5s
Example 1
A rock is thrown horizontally at 10m/s from a
122.5 m cliff.
v1x = +10 m/s v1y = 0
ax = 0 ay = -9.81 m/s2
d1y = 0 d2y = -122.5 m
b) How far does it travel horizontally? d2X = ?
d! (t) = v"! t t=5s
d2x = 50 m
Example 2
A ball is thrown horizontally from the top of
a building at 20 m/s. It lands 80 m, measured
along the ground, from the base of the
building.
How high is the building?
Example 2
A ball is thrown horizontally from the top of
a building at 20 m/s. It lands 80 m, measured
along the ground, from the base of the
building.
v1x = +20 m/s v1y = 0
ax = 0 ay = -9.81 m/s2
d1x = 0 d2x = 80 m
d1y = 0
How high is the building? d2y = ?
Cannot solve for d2y directly; must solve for time
first using horizontal components
Example 2
v1x = +20 m/s v1y = 0
ax = 0 ay = -9.81 m/s2
d1x = 0 d2x = 80 m
d1y = 0
d! (t) = v"! t
t=4s
'$"
d& (t) =
%
d2y = -78 m
Since the ball fell 78 m downwards,
the building’s height is 78 m
