GENERAL PHYSICS 1

FEU HIGH SCHOOL

(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

MODULE 4: PROJECTILE MOTION

INTRODUCTION
The arc of a basketball, the orbit of a satellite, a bicycle rounding a curve, a swimmer diving
into a pool, blood gushing out of a wound, and a puppy chasing its tail are but a few examples of
motions along curved paths. In fact, most motions in nature follow curved paths rather than straight
lines. Motion along a curved path on a flat surface or a plane (such as that of a ball on a pool table or
a skater on an ice rink) is two-dimensional, and thus described by two-dimensional kinematics.
Motion not confined to a plane, such as a car following a winding mountain road, is described by
three-dimensional kinematics. Both two- and three-dimensional kinematics are simple extensions of
the one-dimensional kinematics developed for straight-line motion in the previous chapter. This
simple extension will allow us to apply physics to many more situations, and it will also yield
unexpected insights about nature.

OBJECTIVES
After completing this lesson, learners should be able to:

1. Define projectile
2. Determine the different assumptions in solving problems involving projectile
3. Deduce the consequences of the independence of vertical and horizontal components of
projectile.
4. Solve problems involving projectile motion by calculating the range, time of flight, and
maximum height of projectile.

LECTURE
PROJECTILE MOTION

A form of motion wherein an object is thrown horizontally and follows a curved path under
the action of gravity. This means that the only acceleration acting on an object is the acceleration
due to gravity, and nothing else. The object in flight is called the projectile, the path it follows is the
trajectory, the maximum height reached by a projectile during its flight before it starts to fall back
into the earth is called the trajectory’s apex, the horizontal distance travelled by the projectile is the
range and the total time to cover the range is the projectile’s time of flight. Each of these can be
resolved using the kinematic equations, as long as you break the projectile into its components.

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GENERAL PHYSICS 1
FEU HIGH SCHOOL
(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

COMPONENT METHOD AND KINEMATIC EQUATIONS

The most important fact to remember here is that motions along perpendicular axes are
independent and thus can be analyzed separately. This fact was discussed, where vertical and
horizontal motions were seen to be independent. The key to analyzing two-dimensional projectile
motion is to break it into two motions, one along the horizontal axis and the other along the vertical.
(This choice of axes is the most sensible, because acceleration due to gravity is vertical—thus, there
will be no acceleration along the horizontal axis when air resistance is negligible.) As is customary, we
call the horizontal axis the x-axis and the vertical axis the y-axis.

THE VARIABLES AND THE EQUATIONS

The inclusion of component method makes solving the projectile motion lengthy, but easier.
To solve for the fundamentals being asked, which are the maximum height, total time of flight and
range, it is important to set the variables (it will be more practical to utilize the variables we have used
from the previous lessons) so we would know the equations appropriate to solve for the required.

Initial x-component Initial y-component

𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑥0 + 𝑎𝑥 Δ𝑡* 𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣𝑦0 + 𝑔Δ𝑡
𝑎𝑥 Δ𝑡 2 𝑔Δ𝑡 2
𝛥𝑥 = + 𝑣𝑥0 Δ𝑡* 𝛥𝑦 = + 𝑣𝑦0 Δ𝑡
2
2
𝑣𝑥 = √𝑣𝑥0 2 + 2𝑎𝑥 Δ𝑥* 𝑣𝑦 = √𝑣𝑦0 2 + 2𝑔Δy

Take note of the asterisks on the x-component, as the equations are bound to be reduced
since 𝑎𝑥 = 0 for objects in projectile motion. In addition to this, remember that the variables having
x and y as their subscripts mean that the trigonometric functions must be used (Recall Component
Method on Lesson 1: Vector Addition)

To further elaborate the use of these equations, let us proceed on the Guided Practice Problems and
solve some problems.

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 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
FEU HIGH SCHOOL
(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

GUIDED PRACTICE PROBLEM

Answer the following problems. Sketch the scenario, then follow the GRESA as shown in the video.

1. A movie stunt driver on a motorcycle speeds horizontally off a 50.0-m-high cliff. How fast must
the motorcycle leave the cliff top to land on level ground below, 90.0 m from the base of the
cliff where the cameras are? Ignore air resistance.
2. During a fireworks display, a shell is shot into the air with an initial speed of 70.0 m/s at an
angle of 75.0° above the horizontal. The fuse is timed to ignite the shell just as it reaches its
highest point above the ground. (a) Calculate the height at which the shell explodes. (b) How
much time passed between the launch of the shell and the explosion? (c) What is the horizontal
displacement of the shell when it explodes?
3. A kicked football leaves the ground at an angle 27° with a velocity of 18m/s. Calculate (a) the
maximum height, (b) the time of flight before the football hits the ground, and (c) how far away
it hits the ground. Assume the ball leaves the foot at ground level, and ignore air resistance and
rotation of the ball

(solutions will be discussed alongside a video lecture)

SELF-PACED PRACTICE PROBLEMS

A. Instruction: Answer the following problems. Sketch the scenario, then follow the GRESA as shown
in the video.

1. A crazy person jumped off a 100-meter cliff because of climate change (it's hot, you know).
He is launched up in the air at a velocity of 20m/s in a direction making an angle of 25ᵒ upward
with the horizontal.
a. What is the maximum height reached by the crazy person?
b. What is the total time flight (between launch and touching the ground) of the crazy
person?
c. What is the horizontal range of the crazy person?
d. What is the magnitude of the velocity of the crazy person just before it hits the
ground?

2. Ash, being a cruel person that he was, threw a Pokeball to catch another clueless and
innocent supernatural animal to be used in a derby-like tournament to death. (huhuhu) He
launched it at 20m/s and a launch angle of 40 degrees from the horizontal.
a. Determine the total time the Pokeball stayed in the air before catching the
Pokémon.
b. Determine the horizonal distance of the Pokémon from the Pokeball.
c. What is the magnitude of the velocity of the Pokeball just before it hits the
Pokémon?

DISCUSSION OF SOLUTION
(Will be shown in pre-recorded lecture upon finishing answering the problems)

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 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
FEU HIGH SCHOOL
(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

REFLECTION / APPLICATION

Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALRdYPMpqQs

Now tell me why learning Physics (especially the math of it) is really really really important.

REFERENCE
University Physics by Young and Freedman

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