What is Projectile: Definition and 1000 Discussions

A projectile is any object thrown by the exertion of a force. It can also be defined as an object launched into the space and allowed to move free under the influence of gravity and air resistance. Although any object in motion through space (for example a thrown baseball, kicked football, fired bullet, thrown arrow, stone released from catapult) may be called projectiles, they are commonly found in warfare and sports. Mathematical equations of motion are used to analyze projectile trajectories.

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  1. J

    Impact Force of a Horizontal Moving Projectile

    What is the correct way to calculate the impact force of a 2"x4" flying through the air and hitting a solid cross beam? The knowns are: Velocity: 50 ft/sec Distance To cross beam: 12 ft 2" x 4" Weight: 9 lbs I don't know much the cross beam will deflect on impact, so the stopping distance is...
  2. aatari

    Projectile Problem: Marble falls from Desk

    Hey Guys, I have attempted the question below and need someone to check my work, please. Thanks! 1. Homework Statement A marble rolls off a desk that is 0.86 m above the floor with a horizontal speed of 1.2 m/s. a) What is the marble's horizontal velocity when it is half way to the floor...
  3. aatari

    Projectile Motion: Height of hammer thrown downwards

    Hey Guys, I have attempted the question below and need someone to check my work, please. Thanks! 1. Homework Statement If the hammer was tossed downward at 4.6 m/s from a height of 9.5 m above ground level, how high would it be after 0.75 s? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution [/B]
  4. Ashley Leong

    How does drag force change the maximum height of projectile?

    How does air resistance change the maximum height of a projectile ?
  5. S

    Finding length of an arc produced by projectile

    So I decided to try deriving a general formula for fun. Being a high school student, the calculus got scary very fast. At this point, I'm just curious as to what the best approach to this might be. The approach I used was finding y as a function of x and then inputting it into the arc length...
  6. S

    T-shirt launcher and Projectile motion

    Hello, One more question, this time it's about projectile motion. Could someone please check my answer to this problem. All my work and applicable equations are shown in the pictures below. If my answer is wrong, please provide me with guidelines for solving the problem. I'm not expecting...
  7. S

    Projectile motion of tabletop ball?

    Hello, Could someone please check my answers to this physics problem? All my work and equations are clearly shown in the pictures below. If I got the problem wrong, please provide me with some suggestions as to how I can get it right . I'm not expecting anyone to just give me the answers :)...
  8. EthanVandals

    What is the Maximum Height of this projectile?

    Homework Statement A projectile is launched at 750 meters per second at a 30 degree angle to the horizon. How long is it in the air? How far does it go? What is the maximum height that it reaches? Homework Equations Sin(30)=1/2 Cos(30)=sqrt(3)/2 The Attempt at a Solution This is what I have...
  9. T

    Projectile Motion: An Egg Thrown Vertically Upwards

    1- A person throws an egg directly upward with an initial speed of 27.4 m/s. When the person throws the egg it is located 1.36 m above the ground at the exact moment of release. The effects of air-resistance on the egg can be ignored. (Take the moment of release as t = 0). a. What is the egg's...
  10. G

    Solve for Angle in 2D Projectile Motion Problem | Neglecting Air Resistance

    Homework Statement There are two cliffs separated by 40 meters (horizontal displacement). An arrow is shot from a bow at an angle and a velocity of 90 m/s. The arrow takes 0.75 seconds to arrive at the other cliff. What is the angle at which the arrow was released? Neglect air resistance...
  11. danyull

    Projectile motion on an inclined plane

    Homework Statement A ball is thrown with initial speed v0 up an inclined plane. The inclined plane makes an angle of π/6 above the horizontal line and the ball is launched at an angle θ above the inclined plane. No air resistance in this problem. (a) How long does the ball stay in the air? (b)...
  12. Jarvis88

    1-D Projectile Motion: Throwing a Rock

    Homework Statement [/B] You throw a small rock straight up from the edge of a highway bridge that crosses a river. The rock passes you on its way down, 5.00 s after it was thrown. What is the speed of the rock just before it reaches the water 21.0 m below the point where the rock left your...
  13. A

    Projectile Motion problem involving air resistance

    Homework Statement Ok, so I am attempting to solve a projectile motion problem involving air resistance that requires me to find the total x-distance the projectile traverses before landing again. Given: \\ m=0.7\text{kg} \\ k=0.01 \frac{\text{kg}}{\text{m}} \\ \theta=30 \degree Homework...
  14. Cameron1919

    Projectile Motion + Kinematics Clown Problem

    Homework Statement "a clown is shot of a cliff of height H at an angle theta and speed v. At the base of the cliff his friends are in a clown car. They start accelerating from rest one second after he is shot from the cannon. Assuming their car has constant acceleration, what is the...
  15. F

    A simple confusion: Showing projectile is launched horizontally

    The equation of trajectory of ball B is y = -0.05x^2 where y is vertical displacement and x is horizontal. Prove that the ball is projected horizontallyFor this, the mark scheme says x tan a = 0 so a =0 Since the angle between ball and surface is 0 the object is projected horizontally. I can't...
  16. Q

    What is the trajectory of a projectile and how is it related to parabolas?

    Homework Statement I won't be able to provide the specific problem (in terms of numbers). I was hoping for a conceptual solution. A ball is thrown. From its initial location, it lands on a shelf a given distance away. I am given the distance to the shelf, the height of the shelf, and the...
  17. Vitani11

    Height of a projectile at two points?

    Homework Statement A projectile is fired with a velocity v such that it passes through two points both at a distance h above the horizontal. Show that if the gun is adjusted for maximum range, the separation of the points is d = (v/g)(√v2-4gh) Homework Equations y = -gt2/2 + vsinθt x = vcosθt...
  18. R

    Free Fall and a Projectile motion question

    Homework Statement 1. A diver jumps from a height of 10m leaving with a velocity of 8m/s find the time for which the diver is in the air and the speed at which the diver enters the water? 2. A ball is launched from point A on a horizontal plane with an angle of 55*. It passes two walls both 2m...
  19. G

    Projectile Motion: golf ball velocity to reach the green

    Homework Statement A golfer strikes a golf ball at an angle of 17 degrees above the horizontal. With what velocity must the ball be hit to reach the green which is a horizontal distance of 250 m from the golfer? It is at the same height as the tee. Homework Equations trig equations...
  20. G

    Projectile Motion: Finding Velocity at Net Height

    Homework Statement The Great Projecto is fired from a cannon at a velocity of 29.8 m/s at an angle of 50.4 degrees. He lands in a net which is 2.0 m above his starting elevation. What is his velocity when he hits the net? Homework Equations sin=opp/hyp cos=adj/hyp The Attempt at a Solution...
  21. agargento

    Projectile motion (Basketball)

    Homework Statement A basketball player throws the ball at a 60° angle above the horizontal to a hoop which is located a horizontal distance L = 2.8 m from the point of release and at a height h = 0.4 m above it. What is the required speed if the basketball is to reach the hoop? Homework...
  22. H

    Vector Nature pf Projectile Motion

    Homework Statement If an object had been projected horizontally with the same magnitude as in the depicted situation, how would the motion compare with that of the object in the diagram? (I have drawn the diagram in my attachment and have done questions c and d but I don't understand question...
  23. SirHall

    Finding firing angle of a projectile with drag.

    To find the firing angle to hit a target at a given distance using the initial velocity and gravitational acceleration, we use the formula: Angle = Firing XDist = Distance the target is from the gun along the X axis YDist = Distance the target is from the gun along the Y axis Angle =...
  24. tensor0910

    Projectile motion of basketball

    Homework Statement trying to figure out how to calculate the angle of release needed to shoot a basketball in a rim. Here's the data I have so far: distance from shooter to rim: 6.28m height of rim: 3m height of shooter: 1.75m Initial velocity at time of release: 8.68 m/s ( hypotenuse of...
  25. Eclair_de_XII

    How would I use momentum to calculate projectile range?

    Homework Statement "In the Olympiad, some athletes competing in the standing long jump used handheld weights called halteres to lengthen their jumps. The weights were swung up in front just before liftoff and then swung down and thrown backward during flight. Suppose a modern ##78kg## long...
  26. S

    Intro Physics projectile problem: Archer fish and grasshopper

    HOMEWORK SUBMITTED IN WRONG FORUM, SO NO TEMPLATE I uploaded an image of the problem, it seems to be fairly straight forward. However, my textbook indicates the answer as being 6 m/s, I am consistently getting 3 m/s. Any help would be appreciated! Because there is no air resistance, the...
  27. wheels94

    Projectile Motion - vertical displacement at specific time.

    Homework Statement A kicker wishes to kick a field goal, so he sets the ball on the ground 30 yards (27m) from the goal. Assuming he kicks the ball at an angle of 45 degrees and a speed of 27m/s, what is the height of the ball above the ground when it goes over the crossbar. Known: R = 27m Vo...
  28. D

    Friction acting on the shot putter

    Homework Statement A shot putter with a mass of ##80## kg pushes the iron ball of mass of ##6## kg from a standing position accelerating it uniformly from rest at an angle of ##45^{\circ}## with the horizontal during an interval of ##0.1## seconds. The ball leaves his hand when it is...
  29. angrymasteryoda

    Pendulum swinging and hitting a peg

    Homework Statement a pendulum of mass m and length L is pulled back an angle of θ and released. After the pendulum swings through its lowest point it encounters a peg α degrees out and r meters from the top of the string. The mass swings up about the peg until the string becomes slack with the...
  30. G

    What is the velocity of the projectile when it hits the net?

    Homework Statement The Great Projecto is fired from a cannon at a velocity of 29.8 m/s at an angle of 50.4 degrees. He lands in a net which is 2.0 m above his starting elevation. What is his velocity when he hits the net? How do I find it with no starting elevation? vx1: 36.02 m/s...
  31. K

    Calculate projectile velocity shooting from a trebuchet?

    Hello, I'm designing a hanging counterweight trebuchet for my physics project. I'm wondering if there is any way I can calculate the velocity of the projectile when it is released? (It's shot using a sling attached to the arm) Thanks
  32. kubaanglin

    Projectile motion problem (can someone check my work?)

    Homework Statement A ball is hit at a height of 1.00 m above ground such that it barely clears a wall that is 21.0 m high. This wall is located 130 m away from the location that the ball was hit (home plate). The ball was hit an angle that is 30° with respect to the horizontal. Find the...
  33. S

    Projectile motion on inclined plane

    Homework Statement As shown in the figure below, small object A is projected upward along a smooth slope forming angle α with the horizontal plane, with initial speed v0 in the direction of angle θ from the horizontal within the slope’s plane. The object continues to travel along the surface...
  34. P

    How to get the equation for 3D projectile motion?

    Hey guys, so I'm currently writing a math exploration paper on modelling the optimal tennis serve. I am using Geogebra and I was wondering if you could help me come up with the equation that will help model the trajectory of the tennis ball over time given the following conditions: 1. Initial...
  35. J

    Pendulum Projectile: Find Direction of Travel Formula

    Homework Statement This isn't a specific problem, I just wondering if there was a formula to describe the direction of travel an object would take if it was part of a pendulum and the string broke. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Seeing that if the string broke in the instant that...
  36. F

    Height Question: Projectile launched from a table

    Homework Statement A toy car rolls off of a table at an initial angle of 0 degrees and an initial velocity of 2.81 m/sec. The ball hits the floor 1.55 m (horizontally) from the edge of this table. How tall is the table? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution So far I have: Vo=(2.81 m/sec)...
  37. OccamsRazor1

    Projectile motion with two objects

    Homework Statement A flying shot glass hits a bottle of whisky behind the bar and topples it. The shot glass bounces off the bottle and lands some distance away, while the bottle falls off the shelf with a much smaller horizontal velocity. Shotglass lands 2.4m from where it originally hit the...
  38. C

    Projectile motion of arrow shot parallel to ground

    Homework Statement You are watching an archery tournament when you start wondering how fast an arrow is shot from the bow. Remembering your physics, you ask one of the archers to shoot an arrow parallel to the ground. You find the arrow stuck in the ground 58.0 m away, making a 3.00° angle with...
  39. Minestra

    Definition of Success problems with projectile motion

    So I just got beat up by this question on my midterm. I'm not sure if these problems are always called definition of success but that is how my professor refers to them as. The question: (paraphrased) When you walk into your dorm room you like to throw your keys onto the center of your desk...
  40. T

    Projectile Motion pea shooter question

    Homework Statement A student in the back row of class fires a pea shooter in an attempt to hit the blackboard. The student fires it a distance of 23m from his seat to hit the black board. The pea hits the board after 1.4 seconds at a location 9.3 meters below the ceiling. The pea is fired from...
  41. kubaanglin

    Projectile motion equation proof

    Homework Statement Show that the launch angle θ is given by the expression: θ=tan-1(4hmax/R) where hmax is the maximum height in the trajectory and R is the range of the projectile. Homework Equations hmax=vi2sin2(θ)/2g R=vi2sin(2θ)/g The Attempt at a Solution I am trying to understand the...
  42. Simon Hall

    Sign Convention for Projectile Motion on an Inclined Plane

    Hi, I have a quick question about projectiles on an inclined plane. Specifically, when the projectile is launched down an inclined plane. Is it not possible to use your choice of sign convention? If the projectile is moving from left to right like so: V ...V .....V ....__ V__ Could I not...
  43. nysnacc

    Projectile Motion: Solving for Distance with Integration

    Homework Statement Homework Equations Projectile motion. Vy = 0 Vx = V0The Attempt at a Solution I integrate Vx to find d in terms of t I found d = V0*√(2h/g) Correct?
  44. ken.drea

    Projectile - Speed and angle for football just clearing goalposts

    Question: A kicker on a football team attempts to kick a field goal from 35 yards. The attempt just clears the goal post that is 10 feet high. The football lands 8 feet behind the plane of the goal. What speed and angle was the football initially kicked? (Use acceleration of gravity as 32...
  45. F

    Initial velocity to get from on known position to another?

    I have a problem where I need to figure out the initial velocity vector \vec{v_0} of a projectile, in order for it to land at the final position \vec{r_f} = x_f\hat{x} + y_f\hat{y} + z_f\hat{z}, from initial position \vec{r_0}. ___ The only knowns in the problem are \vec{r_0} and \vec{r_f}...
  46. victorhugo

    This Projectile motion question seems flawed

    [moderator note: Thread moved from General Physics so no template shown] a) Considering X and Y velocities are independent of one another, simply getting the 300m it covered on the X axis and the total time it was in the air, 21.0s, it's easy to get an X velocity of 14.3 m/s to the right. b)...
  47. V

    Three Dimensional Projectile motion

    Homework Statement A baseball player throws a ball at an initial velocity of 27m/s. It lands 140m away at 6.4 seconds. (A) what is the angle he threw it at? (B) what is the maximum height? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I found the angle to be 36 degrees using the formula...
  48. K

    Problem about motion -- vertical projectile motion

    With part (c) - initially I thought the upward acceleration would decrease as the tangerine goes past the windows because it is being acted upon by the force of gravity, but then I felt that the upward acceleration is not changing - it is fixed - and so is the downward acceleration due to...
  49. V

    A Projectile Launcher (baseball hit at a 45 degree angle to the horizontal)

    Homework Statement [/B] A baseball player hits a ball 200.0m home run. The ball travels at angle of 45° with the horizontal just after being hit. Determine the initial speed. Assume the ball lands the same height it was hit. 2. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I am not sure how...
  50. F

    I Optimization in Projectile Motion

    Dear Forum, I am working on projectile motion and optimization these days. Projectile motion uses the kinematic equations of free fall for the vertical direction together with the equations of constant velocity in the horizontal direction. Maximum Range: if an object is launched at a certain...
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