What is Projectile motion: Definition and 1000 Discussions

Projectile motion is a form of motion experienced by a launched object. Ballistics (Greek: βάλλειν, romanized: ba'llein, lit. 'to throw') is the science of dynamics that deals with the flight, behavior and effects of projectiles, especially bullets, unguided bombs, rockets, or the like; the science or art of designing and accelerating projectiles so as to achieve a desired performance.

View More On Wikipedia.org
Recent contents Top users
  1. S

    Projectile motion parabola shape

    why the projectile motion's graph distance against inclination angle is parabola shape? ...thank you
  2. K

    Honors physics basic projectile motion question

    Homework Statement Question: Inbar and Luc are captured by angry natives on a desert island, after their plane crashes. They need to jump over a pit filled with snakes. They jump up at an angle of 23 degrees and need to land 8.7 meters away in x. What does their take off speed have to be? The...
  3. H

    Projectile Motion- deriving formulas

    Homework Statement I need to know how the equation Dx= Vx\sqrt{}2(Dy)/a is valid.
  4. M

    Projectile Motion of a Grasshopper Problem

    Homework Statement A grasshopper leaps into the air from the edge of a vertical cliff, as shown in the figure below. Use information from the figure to find a) the initial speed of the grasshopper and b) the height of the cliff. Homework Equations v=v0 + at x = x0 + v0t +...
  5. G

    Finding the time that a ball is in air, using projectile motion kinematics.

    Homework Statement A ball is thrown from the top of a building upward at an angle of 35◦ to the horizontal and with an initial speed of 10 m/s. The ball is thrown at a height of 43 m above the ground. How long is the ball “in flight”? The acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s2 . Answer in...
  6. L

    Dynamics Question on projectile motion

    Homework Statement A stone of 0.5kg is thrown horizontally from an edge of a cliff at 6 m/s. If the cliff is 20m, what is the horizontal distance traveled by the stone before landing?Homework Equations I am guessing the equations are the standard SUVAT ones and possibly F=ma: v^2 = u^2+2as s...
  7. A

    Projectile Motion: Solving for Range at Various Launch Angles

    Homework Statement A shot-putter throws the shot with an initial speed of 4.0 m/s from a height of 4.5 ft above the ground. Calculate the range of the shot for each of the following launch angles. a. 20 degrees b. 30 degrees c. 40 degrees Vo=4 yo=4.5 Homework Equations y = yo +...
  8. W

    Projectile Motion with Basketball

    A person walking with a speed of 1.45 m/sec releases a ball from a height of h = 1.3 m above the ground. Use the point on the ground, directly below where the ball is initially released at the origin of your coordinate system. Picture...
  9. N

    Short question on projectile motion

    Projectiles containing delicate equipment may b damaged if subjected to high accelerations. So these should be fired frm guns with long barrels than with guns with short barrels. 1. State 2 factors which affect the range of projectile fired from a gun. 2.explain why projectile fired from a long...
  10. N

    Projectile Motion Help: Calculating Direction of a Ball Thrown from a Cliff

    Homework Statement a ball is throwm horizontally from top of a cliff with velocity 10meter per second. height of cliff above the ground is 45 meters. calculate the direction of ball to horizontal surface just before it hits the grouND The Attempt at a Solution i found time=3s...and horizontal...
  11. S

    Projectile Motion fired at an angle

    A projectile is fired from ground level at time t = 0, at an angle theta with respect to the horizontal. It has an initial speed v_0. In this problem we are assuming that the ground is level. a) Find the time t_H it takes the projectile to reach its maximum height. Express t_H in terms of...
  12. A

    Projectile Motion - Is my work correct?

    Homework Statement You drop a ball (0.5kg( from a height of 4m. How long did the ball take to hit the ground? Homework Equations Assume that initially the velocity is 0 for the following equations below. \DeltaPosition = \Delta Velocity * \Delta Time Acceleration = \Delta Velocity / \Delta Time...
  13. K

    Projectile motion - finding initial velocity with no time

    Homework Statement I'm having trouble finding the initial velocity without knowing the time. A basketball player is standing on the floor 10.0 m from the basket. The height of the basket is H = 3.05 m, and he shoots the ball at an angle, θ = 42.0°, with the horizontal from a height of h =...
  14. Femme_physics

    Projectile motion with unknown angle and Vo

    Homework Statement http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/6055/footballer01.jpg A footballer kicks a ball and therefor the ball arrives at point C, above the goal at 4 meters height Presuming that point C is at max height of the path and distance AB is 20 meters, calculate the speed of the ball...
  15. C

    Projectile Motion: Horizontal distance

    Homework Statement A jet flying at 250m/s at an angle of 20 degrees above the horizontal releases a bomb 200m above the ground, how far does the bomb travel horizontally before hitting the ground? Homework Equations vix = vicosthetha viy= visinthetha not sure what else... The...
  16. C

    More Football Projectile Motion

    Homework Statement A kicker is trying to kick a field goal. The uprights are 3.048m off the ground. a)At what angle must he kick the ball to ensure the ball goes through the uprights if he kicks it at a velocity of 38.4/s (assume the uprights are at the peak of the ball)? b) how many yards...
  17. C

    Projectile Motion: Football Thrown at Moving Receiver

    Homework Statement A football player throws a football at a player who is 10m away. The football is fired at 20m/s at 30degrees above the horizontal. If the receiver is running straight away from the quarterback at 12.25m/s will he catch the football (assuming the ball is caught at the same...
  18. U

    Projectile Motion and Air resistance

    I'm taking grade 12 physics and I've been given a lab that involves a slingshot. A baseball will be shot using a slingshot and is to go 40m. I have to perform calculations to find out the initial velocity it needs to travel a distance of 40m, however, I have to take air resistance into account...
  19. J

    Projectile Motion: Water Balloon Launch Project

    For a water balloon launch project, our students need to calculate the distance that the balloon will travel given the following information: K- the spring constant of the launcher the mass of the water balloon the angle of launch the distance that the launcher is pulled back. Can...
  20. S

    Formula for Projectile Motion?

    Can someone post a decent formula? I can't seem to find something that I can understand.
  21. A

    Projectile Motion Homework Problem: Finding Time for a Ball Dropped from 4m

    Homework Statement You drop a ball (0.5kg) from a height of 4m. How long did the ball take to hit the ground? Acceleration = -10 due to gravity. Homework Equations \Deltax = Area Under a Velocity-Time graph. ^ In this case, it will be .5*Velocity*Time. The Attempt at a Solution Acceleration =...
  22. S

    Projectile Motion angle when fired

    Homework Statement Ok so i need to work out at what angle a projectile is fired at to clear a wall that is 25m away and 15m tall. the projectile is traveling at 53m/s Homework Equations x=(Vx)(t) y=(Vy)(t)-1/2gt^2 t=x/Vx The Attempt at a Solution so i started by substituing...
  23. M

    Projectile Motion (Initial Velocity)

    Hi, I am trying to find the initial velocity of this question: Using a video camera, it is observed that when a ball is kicked from A, it just clears the top of a wall at B as it reaches its maximum height. Knowing the distance from A to the wall is 20m and the wall is 4m high, determine the...
  24. P

    Projectile Motion Velocity Question

    The drawing shows a skateboarder moving at 5.4 m/s along a horizontal section of a track that is slanted upward by 48° above the horizontal at its end, which is 0.4 m above the ground. When she leaves the track, she follows the characteristic path of projectile motion. Ignoring friction and air...
  25. B

    Projectile motion (hammer throw)

    Hello all, just a few questions i'd like to clarify. thanks in advance 2.) In the mens hammer throw field event, athletes compete to throw a hammer as far as possible. A Hammer consists of a ball of mass 7.257kg attached to a cable of length 1.215 meters. Atheletes typicall spin the hammer 4...
  26. M

    Projectile Motion: Determining Height of Wood Chips Ejected at 30 degrees

    Hi I'm new to the physics forum as this is my first post so apologies for any mistakes. I have a question relating to projectile motion that i don't understand the question is: The chipping machine is designed to eject wood chips at Ui = 7.6 m/s. If the tube is oriented at 30 degrees from...
  27. G

    Projectile Motion Simulation: Max Height, Velocities, Range & Time

    Homework Statement Design projectile motion simulation and produce the max height, inital and final velocity, range, and time of flight. must use digital or photographic tech to record events and assist in the experiment> Okay so I've designed a half projectile motion simulation. A ramp...
  28. B

    Calculating Projectile Motion and Forces in Men's Hammer Throw Event

    Hello all, just a few questions i'd like to clarify. thanks in advance 2.) In the mens hammer throw field event, athletes compete to throw a hammer as far as possible. A Hammer consists of a ball of mass 7.257kg attached to a cable of length 1.215 meters. Atheletes typicall spin the hammer 4...
  29. E

    Projectile Motion in 3rd, finding out where 2 paths cross

    Homework Statement 2 projectiles, one at the origin the other at (0,100,0)m, have initial speeds of 35 m/s and 55 m/s respectively, and have direction cosine angles (45,60,60) and (60,135,60) respectively. Both are under the influence of gravity and experience a force of air resistance that...
  30. J

    Projectile motion without Vi or time known

    1.An airplane is trying to deliver medical supplies by dropping them from the cargo bay during a fly-over mission (they have no initial velocity RELATIVE to the plane). Due to mountains in the area, when the plane drops the supplies, it is moving at an angle of 15o above horizontal, and it is at...
  31. N

    Physics's projectile motion assignment

    Homework Statement a beginning darts player aims a dart directly at the bullseye. the dart reaches the dartboard 0.25 s after throwing the dart. how far below the bullseye ill it land? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  32. N

    Physic's projectile motion assignment

    Homework Statement a projectile is launched from a point A and travels a horizontal distance of 28m. it spends a total time of 1.4 seconds in the air. (a) calculate the horizontal velocity of the projectile. (b)what is the magnitude and direction of the projectile's velocity at point B. Give...
  33. X

    Projectile Motion, how tall is the building

    Homework Statement A ball thrown horizontally at 21.7 m/s from the roof of a building lands 35.5 m from the base of the building. How tall is the building? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Vy= Voy + 1/2AT^2 Vy= -4.9(21.7)^2 Vy= -2307.361 I know it should be...
  34. J

    Direction of acceleration in projectile motion

    Homework Statement Why is acceleration taken to be -g in vertical projection even when the object is falling towards the ground? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I know acceleration is -g when the object is going upwards but why is it still -g when the object is reaching the...
  35. I

    Projectile motion and gravitational acceleration

    Homework Statement A projectile is fired from the origin O at an angle 45 degrees from the horizontal. At the highest point P of its trajectory, determine the radial and transverse components of it's acceleration in terms of the gravitational acceleration g Homework Equations x=...
  36. Z

    Projectile motion with air resistance and earth

    Homework Statement A projectile near the Earth's surface (in 2 dimensions) is subjected to a resistive force F=-bv. The corrected value for time of flight is? (take r=b/m and initial velocity along y direction as Vo)The Attempt at a Solution Let instantaneous velocity vector V = Vxi + Vyj Let...
  37. S

    Solving Uni Physics with Projectile Motion

    uni physics! Homework Statement A child runs down a 12 degrees hill and then suddenly jumps upward at a 15 degree angle above horizontal and land 1.4m down the hill as measured along the hill. What was the child's initial speed? firstly, when he runs downhill with a certain velocity then...
  38. K

    Projectile motion of tennis ball

    Homework Statement A tennis player serves in a match.He hits the tennis ball so that it flies off the racket with a velocity of 50m/s at 10° to the horizontal. Sx=11m Sy=2.4 - 1.07 = 1.33m ux=50cos10° uy=50sin10° time=? a)Show that the ball cannot pass over the net. b)The player serves...
  39. M

    Projectile motion of home run ball

    Homework Statement major league baseball outfield fences are typically 350 feet away from home plate. Home run balls need to be at least 12 feet off the ground to clear the fence. Calculate the minimun required initial velocity( in mph ) for a home run, for baseballs hit at 15°, 30°, 45°, and...
  40. P

    Finding Velocity at impact of a projectile motion with an angle

    Homework Statement A medieval prince trapped in a castle wraps a message around a rock and throws it from the top of the castle wall with an initial velocity of 12 m/s [42 above horizon]. The rock lands just on the far side of the castle's moat, at a level 9.5 m below the initial level...
  41. M

    What variables do I need to consider for my projectile motion project?

    I'm new to this place so I really didn't know where to post this but here's the deal. My Physics teacher assigned us a projectile related to projectile motion. We are to build a siege weapon (catapult, trebuchet, ballista, etc.) that would launch a 1lb water balloon 25 ft in distance. We are...
  42. F

    Fun Projectile Motion with football

    Hey guys, my friend recently scored a great football goal and it was posted on youtube. I'm mechanical engineering uni student and i wanted to test my physics invoving projectile motion to calculate the Initial velocity of the ball. After some calculations i came across a startling answer of...
  43. N

    Projectile Motion Time Question

    Homework Statement In projectile motion, the time it takes for an object to get from a certain height to the peak is the same time as the time to reach the same height from the peak, correct? Well then, I came across something in which an object was shot in the air via a slingshot and peaked...
  44. T

    Projectile Motion, different starting/ending height.

    If you are given the projectile angle, initial velocity, and height you can find the projectile range using the quadratic equation (solving for t). One thing I don't understand is why the quadratic equation seems to be the only way to solve these problems. For instance, let's say an object is...
  45. N

    Projectile Motion: Is Final Y Velocity Lower Than Initial? Impact on Time?

    I was solving a projectile motion problem and was wondering if, while going downwards, an object's final y velocity can be less than the initial y velocity. If this is true, would this change the time until it hit the ground? The only reason I was thinking about this is because if x/v = t. If...
  46. A

    Projectile Motion - formula derivation

    Homework Statement present a formal derivation of the formula (given above) that was used to calculate the kinetic energy of the arrow immediately after release from the bow.. repeated here: K = ½ x mgsH Where m is mass, g is grav. acceleration and sH is horizontal velocity. My...
  47. Z

    Projectile Motion Help: Find Minimum Angle for Target Projection

    Projectile motion - urgent help needed Homework Statement Target is projected at an an angle to the horizontal, initial speed 4 m/s, unknown angle and unknown distance to the target. Height of the target is 0.8m. Need to find the minimum angle. Homework Equations v= u+at v =...
  48. L

    Projectile Motion two golf balls

    1. I just want to make sure I understand the concept correctly and that I have provided the correct explanation and understanding...therefore the image of the problem is not important "Figures 1 and 2 show the paths followed by two golf balls, A and B. In each figure, does Ball A spend...
  49. C

    Projectile Motion: Comparison of Maximum Altitudes on Earth and Moon

    A projectile is launched on the Earth with a certain initial velocity and moves without air resistance. Another projectile is launched with the same initial velocity on the Moon, where the acceleration due to gravity is 1/6 as large. How does the maximum altitude of the projectile on the...
  50. T

    Projectile Motion - Finding Ini. Vel. using Range and Angle

    Homework Statement A quarterback throws the football to a stationary receiver who is 31.5m down the field. If the football is thrown at an initial angle of 40.0 degrees to the ground, at what initial speed must the quarterback throw the ball for it to reach the receiver, if the ball is caught...
Back
Top