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Projectile Motion (Time of Flight, Horizontal Range and Trajectory)
Let P(x, y) present the location of a projectile after a time t from the time of
projection.
At the point O, horizontal part of velocity = u cos and
vertical part of velocity = u sin
Acceleration due to gravity performs vertically downwards. Hence vertical
element of velocity modifies. While horizontal element of velocity remains
constant (u cosu) in the whole motion.
u
ucosu u
R
usi
n
u
O
Time of flight: It is the time taken by the body from the instant it is realized till it strikes a position on the
same horizontal plane as the point of projection.
To calculate time of flight, we can find the time when vertical displacement is zero i.e.
0 = u sinu t
2
gt
2
1
(u sinu gt
2
1
) t = 0 t = 0 or t =
2 usin

g
Thus , Time of flight T =
2usin

g
Range: During this time horizontal element of velocity has taken the particle through a distance x
horizontally
Where, x = u cosu T = u cosu
2 usin

g
=
2
u sin2

g
This distance, we call as range on horizontal plane ,
2
u sin2

R
g
=
R
max
=
g
u
2
for u = 45
For a given velocity same range can be obtained for an angle u and angle (90 u) i.e.
R =
, ,
2
u sin2 90 -

g
=
, ,
2
u sin 180 - 2

g
=
2
u sin2

g
To calculate maximum height, the vertical component of velocity equals to zero, when the particle is at the
highest point from the ground. At that time particle has only horizontal component of velocity i.e. = u cosu
0 = (u sinu)
2
2gH
max
H
max
=
2 2
u sin

2g
The motion of projectile can be analysed through vector notation also for e.g. velocity of projectile (v) at
any time t can be written as
, ,

v ucos i usin gt j = +

Hence, the magnitude of velocity (speed) v at any time is given as ,

v= , , , ,
2 2
ucos usin gt + =
2 2 2
2 sin u g t u gt + (The path of a projectile is called its trajectory)
Trajectory of projectile
y = u sinu t
2
1
2
gt . . . (1) (vertical displacement at any time t)
x = u cosu t . . . (2) (Horizontal displacement at any time t)
Using t =
cos
x
u
We get, y = x tan
2
2 2
2 cos
gx
u
, Which suggest that trajectory of projectile is parabola