What is Projectiles: Definition and 195 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. V

    Projectiles launched from platforms of different elevation.

    1."A ball is kicked from a platform 3.2m above the ground at an angle of 20 degrees above the horizontal. If the ball lands on the ground 100m away, what is the initial velocity of the ball?" There is no air resistance acting upon the ball and we have to use constant acceleration equations...
  2. P

    Projectiles and Vectors Graphs

    I have a theory question I was wondering about. Today we learned that on a graph of projectile motion, velocity always acts tangent to the graph of the projectile. Why is is this? Also, does acceleration always act down on a projectile? How do acceleration and displacement vectors act on a...
  3. W

    Projectiles On An Inclined Plane

    Homework Statement A particle is projected with initial speed u at an angle tan-inverse(1/2) to an inclined plane. The plane contains the point of projection and makes an angle tan-inverse(3/4) with the horizontal. Show that the angle at which the particle strikes the plane is tan-inverse(2)...
  4. P

    Cannon Projectiles: Find v_0 & theta for Roof of Flooded Building

    Homework Statement A cannon is shooting emergency packets to people stranded on the roof of a flooded building of height H = 106 meters relative to the cannon, the corner of which is located a distance D = 52 meters from the cannon. It is desired that the incoming packets are flying tangent to...
  5. G

    High School Physics: Projectiles at Angles

    Homework Statement "A ball rolls off an incline plane. The speed of the ball is 22m/s and the plane is inclined at 32 degrees to the horizontal.If the incline is 9.0m above the ground, how far from the base of the incline will the ball hit the floor?" (The rounded answer is supposed to be...
  6. W

    Projectiles colliding on a horizontal plane

    Homework Statement A bullet is fired from a gun fixed at a point O with speed v m/s at an angle Θ to the horizontal, At the instant of firing , a moving target is 10m vertically above O and traveling with constant speed 42√ 2 m/s at a constant angle 45 degrees to the horizontal.The bullet and...
  7. A

    Two projectiles, displacement vs. time

    A ball is thrown upward with an initial speed, vo. When it reaches the top of its flight, at a height h, a second ball is thrown at the same initial velocity. sketch a displacement vs time graph for both balls. where do the balls cross from the graph. Find the height where the paths cross...
  8. A

    Trouble calculating a projectiles height after a certain distance

    trouble calculating a projectile's height after a certain distance Homework Statement A pebble is fired from a slingshot with a velocity of 30.0m/s. If it is fired at an angle of 30deg to the vertical, what height will it reach? If its fall is interrupted by a vertical wall 12m away, where...
  9. P

    How to calculate initial velocity and launch angle? (Projectiles)

    Homework Statement A bean bag launcher is used to shoot a bean bag at a corn hole board. The bag is released at a height of .61m above the ground. The front of the board is 5.18m from the location where the launcher releases the bean bag. The back of the board stands .31 m off the ground; the...
  10. U

    What is the point of angling projectiles?

    Homework Statement If the horizontal velocity remains the same, whether angled or not, I don't quite understand why we bother launching projectiles upwards on an angle? Would it be better just to launch them horizontally ? Homework Equations d= 1/2gt^2...I think? The Attempt at...
  11. P

    Projectiles why the person multiplied the column vector OB by h?

    Question 7c on attached, in the solutions could someone explain why the person multiplied the column vector OB by h? I don't get it
  12. N

    How Does Projectile Motion Affect a Tennis Ball Thrown from a Moving Car?

    A tennis ball is thrown straight up at 10 m s -1 from a car traveling at 30 m s -1 a)Determine the time of flight for the ball b)How far will the car have traveled before the ball lands in the car? c)Why in practice would your answer to a) not happen S = ut v = u + at a) At first...
  13. N

    How Accurate Are These Projectile Motion Calculations?

    I have a few questions about projectiles that I just want to verify that my calculations and working out is correct. A bullet is fired horizontally from a rifle at 250 m s -1. after traveling 100m the bullet strikes a target Calculate the time take for the bullet to strike the target...
  14. P

    Projectiles - Are my answers correct?

    Just two questions, if anyone has the time to check over my answers (no mark scheme is available). Q1. A particle P moves on the x-axis. The acceleration of P at time t seconds, t ≥ 0 is (3t+5) ms^-2 in the positive x-direction. When t = 0, the velocity of P is 2 ms^-1 in the positive...
  15. M

    Which Ship Gets Hit First by the Destroyer's Shells?

    Homework Statement A destroyer simultaneously fires two shells with different initial speeds at two different enemy ships. The shells follow the parabolic trajectories shown. http://smartphysics.com/Content/Media/Images/Mechanics/02/Destroyer2.gif Which ship gets hit first? Homework...
  16. N

    3 projectiles, same velocity, different distance, same destination

    Homework Statement So I currently have 3 projectiles, that I need to get to the same destination. AND HIT, AT THE SAME TIME The projectiles are different distances from the target destination. How will I go about to find the angle all of the projectiles should be fired? The Attempt at a...
  17. B

    Calculating Projectile Trajectories with Gravitational and Electrostatic Forces

    I am an undergraduate physics student and found myself thinking about a scenario where two positively charged projectiles are fired at an angle to the horizontal at a velocity with a certain separation. So they will be subject to a gravitational force and perpendicular to this, an electrostatic...
  18. E

    How Do You Solve Projectile Motion on an Incline?

    Homework Statement Part (a) was fine, managed it okay. Homework Equations v_x = 20\cos30 -9.8\sin35 = 3.32 v_y = 20\sin30 -9.8\cos35 = -10 Part (b) is what is giving me trouble at the moment. The Attempt at a Solution \dfrac{4}{5} = \dfrac{v_b - v_a}{u_a - u_b} I...
  19. C

    Kinematics question projectiles with vector components (baseball player Q)

    Homework Statement Base ball player makes perfect contact with a ball striking it at 45° angle above the horizontal at a point 1.3 m above the ground. His ball just makes it clear of the 3m wall 130m from home plate. What was the velocity at with he struck the ball. Homework Equations is...
  20. K

    How to Calculate Projectile Motion with Initial Horizontal Velocity

    Homework Statement A night somebody pushes a derelict car horizontally off a 45m high cliff top at 2.0 ms^-1. (a) How long does it take to hit the ground? (g=10ms^-2) (b) How far from the base of the cliff does it land? Homework Equations The answer to (a) is 3.0s and (b) is 6.0m...
  21. E

    How Do You Calculate Final Velocity of a Projectile Fired at a Negative Angle?

    Homework Statement Trying to work out final velocity of a projectile that is initially fired at a negative angle. Initial velocity is 30m/s at a negative angle of 16 degrees. Initial height is 0.44m. Can't get my head around the initial horizontal velocity. I figure its Vox =30 sin 16...
  22. C

    Horizontally Launched Projectiles

    Homework Statement An airplane loaded with flame retardant travels horizontally at 200. km/h. The altimeter indicates that the plane is 180. m above the ground. The pilot wants to know how far in advance of the fire to release the retardant. Please assist her. The answer was given, which is...
  23. P

    Bullet in Block- 2D Projectiles w/ Motion

    Homework Statement A(n) 9 g bullet is fired into a 396 g block that is initially at rest at the edge of a frictionless table of height 0.9 m. The bullet remains in the block, and after impact the block lands 2.3 m from the bottom of the table. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s. Homework...
  24. V

    How Does Wind Affect a Plane's Velocity?

    Homework Statement A plane heads out to L.A with a velocity of 220m/s in a NE direction, relative to the ground, and encounters a wind blowing head-on at 45m/s, what is the resultant velocity of the plane, relative to the ground.Homework Equations Pythagorean Theorem ? Simple subtraction The...
  25. K

    Projectiles: Bullet Fired into Block

    Homework Statement A(n) 9 g bullet is fired into a 303 g block that is initially at rest at the edge of a frictionless table of height 1.9 m. The bullet remains in the block, and after impact the block lands 1.5 m from the bottom of the table. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s/s. Find...
  26. G

    Projectiles dealing with a bullet

    [b]1. Homework Statement A shell is fired from the ground with an initial speed of 1.60*10^3m/s at an initial angle of 56° to the horizontal. (a) Neglecting air resistance, find the shell's horizontal range. (b) Find the amount of time the shell is in motion. Homework Equations...
  27. S

    Acceleration in 2 Dimensions-Vectors and Projectiles

    [b]1. An airplane is flying with a velocity of (150, 0) m/s. It is accelerated at 8.92 m/s2 in the x direction, and accelerated in negative y direction at 1.21 m/s2. What is the airplane's velocity at t = 3.6 s?[b]2. My textbook says this is a relevant equation: average acceleration = change in...
  28. E

    Why do projectiles cause acceleration

    I am taking AP physics and have taken physics before but am puzzled. I started thinking about the classical tug of war question. I get that a team wins in tug of war not because the pull on each other but because they push on the ground. This is b/c of Newton's 3rd and b/c there is a net force...
  29. M

    Final Kinetic Energy and speed of three projectiles fired from a building's roof

    Homework Statement Three different mass projectiles, mA > mB > mC, are launched from the top of a building at different angles with respect to the horizontal. Each particle has the same initial kinetic energy. Which particle has the greatest kinetic energy just as it hits the ground? Why...
  30. A

    New Research Project: high velocity projectiles with small masses

    Hi everyone, I am new to this forum. I am a high school student but I am extremely interested in science and I like to call myself a "junior physicist". even though I am not nearly as smart as a real one. But I suppose I am working my way up there. I am hoping to go to college and get a degree...
  31. C

    Finding Intersection of 2 Projectiles: Urgent Help Needed

    (I will try to correctly translate this, as this is a class in french) A person on the board of a swimming pool throws a ball (ball1) at a speed of 8 m / s at an angle of 40 degrees above the horizontal. At the time of launch, the ball is 3 m above the water, and 10 m from the opposite side of...
  32. G

    Projectiles: Launch speed and horizontal distance

    New to the forums, just starting a physics 11 course online and having some troubles with formulas. Homework Statement Projectile shot straight upwards, flight time = 4.70 sec Second Launch at 45 degrees (horizontal range approx. 50-60 meters A) Find Launch Velocity B) Find...
  33. S

    Maximum Velocity in projectiles

    Homework Statement A man stands on the roof of a building of height 16.6 and throws a rock with a velocity of magnitude 25.0 at an angle of 35.0 above the horizontal. You can ignore air resistance. Calculate the magnitude of the velocity of the rock just before it strikes the ground...
  34. W

    How Does Projectile Motion Work When a Ball is Thrown from a Cliff?

    A ball is thrown from the brink of a cliff 10 m high with an initial velocity of v0 = 4 m/s at an angle q0 = 31° above the horizontal. a) How long does it take to land? I did 4sin(31)-.5(-9.8)t^2, but that is not the right answer. b) How far from the base of the cliff does it land? I...
  35. W

    How do I calculate the trajectory of a thrown ball onto a roof?

    A ball is thrown from the ground onto a roof of height yroof = 15 m from a distance of x = 7 meters away as shown in the diagram to the left. The maximum height of the ball's trajectory is ymax = 4 meters above the top of the roof. (a) Find the required initial vertical component of the...
  36. I

    Mechanics Projectiles Trajectory Question Help Needed

    Homework Statement An anti aircraft gun with initial velocity 400m/s at angel theta above the horizontal, and the shells may be assumed to move freely under gravity. The target is a pilotless aircraft which flies at a speed of 100m/s directly towards the gun at a constant height of 3500m. A...
  37. A

    Double-slit experiment with magnets and iron projectiles

    Hi, I am not sure if this kind of experiment has been performed before. If so, great, I would love to see the results. Anyway, here goes. The double-slit experiments with photons, electrons and even...
  38. ThomasMagnus

    Times of flight for projectiles

    Is the time it takes for a projectile to hit the ground the same for the x and y axis' ? For example, if you are given the range of a projectile or told that it will hit a fixed point, will it have the same time of travel for x and y? If you know that it hits a fixed Point or are given the...
  39. S

    Understanding Projectiles (Example Problem Given)

    I don't know how to tackle projectiles and would like to have someone sort of show me what you look for in projectiles and how you normally tackle projectile problems. The golfer wants to hit the ball the same horizontal distance of 130M and 20M above his tee-off point as in Problem 10-32...
  40. A

    Projectiles Problem: Solve Questions & Improve Test Scores

    Homework Statement just got back my test and did really bad on it. how would you do these question? 1) A rock is fired horizontally off of a cliff at 41 m/s. what is the magnitude of its velocity 5.3s later? 2) a golf ball is thrown out of a window at 15 m/s at an angle of 22* above the...
  41. F

    How Do You Calculate Projectile Motion from a Cliff?

    Homework Statement A projectile is fired from the top of a 10m high cliff. It has a range of 152m and reaches a maximum height of 8.2m above the cliff top. Determine the time of flight Is Delta Y =18.2? Is Uy=10 Homework Equations Delta Y = Uyt + 0.5 ayt The Attempt at a Solution...
  42. D

    Projectiles: Hitting x and y with initial height given.

    Hi, we can determine the velocity to hit x and y point with angle of projection given. but can we do the same if the initial height of projection is given?
  43. S

    Projectiles Launched At An Angle

    Wayne Brian threw a spear a distance of 201.24 meters. Suppose he threw the spear at a 35.0 degree angle with respect to the horizontal. What was the initial speed of the spear? Data Known- Delta X: 201.24 m Theta (angle): 35.0 degrees Acceleration (Y): -9.81 meters/seconds/seconds...
  44. S

    Calculating Time Between Two Projectile Collisions

    Homework Statement At time t1, the boy throws a ball at an angle theta1 After some time (say t2), the boy throws another ball at an angle theta2 The initial velocity for both balls is the same (say v0) The balls collide at B, a distance of y (as shown in the attachment) the veritcal...
  45. J

    Going Crazy Exploding Projectiles

    1. Homework Statement A projectile is launched with speed v0 at an angle with respect to the horizontal. At the peak of its motion, it explodes into two pieces of equal mass, which continue to move in the original plane of motion. One piece strikes the ground a horizontal distance D farther...
  46. J

    Exploding Projectiles: What Happens to the Other Piece?

    Homework Statement A projectile is launched with speed v0 at an angle \theta with respect to the horizontal. At the peak of its motion, it explodes into two pieces of equal mass, which continue to move in the original plane of motion. One piece strikes the ground a horizontal distance D...
  47. D

    Maximizing Projectile Range on a Sloped Ramp

    Homework Statement A toy cannon is placed on a ramp that has a slope of angle alpha = Pi/8. The cannonball is projected up the hill at an angle of pheta above the horizontal (see figure) and has a muzzle speed of v0 = 4.2 m s−1. (a) Given pheta = Pi/5, compute R, the range of the...
  48. D

    Artillery projectiles simulation

    Hi guys I've been googling for awhile but sadly i can't find the answer i need (idk maybe because my googling skills suck :D) I am Software developer and I'm trying to build 3D artillary simulator I need some help on this one if u don't mind (I hope this is the right forum to post this)...
  49. C

    Projectile Launch Speed: Solve 876j Work Homework

    Homework Statement A projectile launcher did 876j of work on a .398kg projectile what is the launch speed of the projectile? Homework Equations W = f*d mg = 3.9004 after that I am stuck The Attempt at a Solution I drew a diagram and tried a few things but am completely stuck...
  50. E

    Using projectiles to solve for 2-D motion problems

    1. A landscape architect is planning an artificial water fall in a city park. Water flowing at 1.56 m/s will leave the end of a horizontal channel at the top of a vertical wall 2.01 m high and from there fall into a pool. (a) How wide a space will this leave for a walkway at the foot of the wall...
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