Simplifying Physics--two dimensional motion,

Path of Projectiles
Srinivasan Nenmeli Ph D
Introduction
We now develop equations of motion in two
dimensions. A typical problem is the path or
trajectory of a cannon ball shot from a cannon
which is tilted with an 'elevation angle' of say
45 degrees from the horizontal ground.
We have to consider the movement in the vertical
or y direction [or the height (altitude)] and
the distance traveled along the ground ,the x
direction or the horizontal direction.
It is easy to do this if we split the 'velocity
vector' into two components-- the y component or
vertical component and the x component or
horizontal component.





Splitting the velocity vector
We treat velocity as a vector ,with a magnitude
and direction --not as a 'scalar' or a numerical
quantity alone. A vector has a direction too,
usually measured as an angle with respect to a
reference direction.
Our reference direction is always the horizontal
positive -x direction of analytic geometry. The
angle is measured from this direction in
counter-clockwise direction [which is positive
in geometry.]
Let 'U' be the initial velocity of the cannon
ball.[ I denote vectors by capital, bold
letters.]
The magnitude of the velocity we will denote as
U.


The direction angle is theta:.
Recall the trigonometric relations;
Then the two components are found to be:
x component or horizontal component:
U
x
= Ucos
and the y component or the height component:
U
y
= U sin
Example:
For a canon with muzzle velocity of 200 m/s,
tilted at an angle of 36 deg from the horizontal
:
U
x
= 200 x cos (36) = 200 x 0.8090 = 161.8 m/s
U
y
= 200 x sin (36) = 200 x 0.5878 = 117.56 m/s
Check: Using Pythagorian theorem:
161.8
2
+ 117.6
2
= 39999.55 = 200
2







Vertical motion
First we develop the equations for vertical
motion of the ball :
Distance traveled or the max height H:
s = H = ut + (1/2) a t.t
H = u
y
t + (1/2)[ -9.8] t.t --------(1)
Note that we take a = -g for the upward
movement.
The velocity at max height is zero:
Recall the equation: v = u + at
where u is the initial velocity and v is the
final velocity and 'a' is the acceleration.
v = 0 = u
y
- 9.8 t
Therefore t = u
y
/9.8 -------------(2)
You need only these two equations to find max
height and the time to reach the max height.
Example:
Find the time to reach max height ,t,and the max


height reached by the canon ball ,H,in the above
example:
Taking U
y
= 117.6,
t = 117.6/9.8 = 12 seconds
H = 117.6 x 12 - 0.5 x 9.8 x 12 x 12
= 1411.2 - 705.6 = 705.6 m
Calculate the time taken to reach the ground ;
the vertical distance traveled is ,of course,
705.6 m.

Recall s = H = ut + (1/2)9.8 t.t
now u = 0 ; a= g = 9.8
705.6 = 0 + 0.5 x 9.8 x t.t
solving ,we get t = 12 seconds.
The time taken to reach the ground from max
height is the same as the time taken to reach
the max height.
Total time of flight for the cannon ball = 12


+12 =24 seconds.

Range or horizontal motion
This is easy: the horizontal velocity U
x
is
constant [not affected by gravity] and so the
distance traveled or
Range R = U
x
t = 161.8 x 24 = 3883.2 m.
Note that the canon ball reaches nearly 4 km
from the firing point.
The parabolic trajectory
We can now combine the vertical and the
horizontal motion.
It is easy to show that the canon ball follows a
path or trajectory of a parabola:
Let us write the y coordinate [the height] and
the x coordinate equations:
s = h(t) = y (t) = u
y
t + (1/2)(-g) t
2 ------(3)

R = x(t) = u
x
t --------------(4)


These two equations are called "parametric
equations' with the common parameter , time,'t'
relating x and y.
Let us eliminate 't' from the equation (3) for
y(t):
From equation (4),
we get t = x(t)/u
x

Substitute for t in equation (3):
y(t) = [U
y
/u
x
]x(t) + [(1/2)(-g) /u
x
2]
x
2
(t)
------------ (5)
This equation is an extremely useful one for any
parabolic trajectory problem.Note that the
trajectory depends only on the initial velocity
and the angle of throw.
The term [u
y
/ u
x ]
= tan ().
This is an equation of a parabola in the form:
y = a x + b x
2

Putting in the numbers, we get:


y(t) = (117.6/161.8) x(t) - [4.9/(161.8)
2
] x
2

(t)
y = 0.727 x - 1.872 x
2

you can plot this equation to look at the
parabolic trajectory of the cannon ball.

The Range equation
The range calculation is of interest to every
artillery gunner.
The time to reach peak height:
t = u
y
/ g
The total time of flight = 2t
The range = R = u
x
(2t)= 2.u
x
.u
y /
g
R = 2 (u cos )(u sin )/g
Range R = u
2
sin (2)/g ------------- (6)


This range equation is important in many
applications. Note that the range depends on


the 'square of the initial velocity' and on
sin(2 ) where is the angle of elevation of
the gun.
For a given initial velocity, the range is a
maximum for = 45 deg.[sin 90 = 1]
[Note: In real life, the range and max height of
the canon ball or tank ammunition are affected
by such factors as air resistance, air density
which depends on ambient temperature and wind
velocities. More detailed analysis is made by
army gunners.]
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Additional problems
1 For an anti-aircraft gunner, the max height
reached is important. Calculate the max height a
gun shot can reach for an anti-aircarft gun with
initial muzzle velocity of 40 m/s and the
elevation angle as 60 degrees.


2 A shot putter throws the shot at an angle of
42 deg with the initial velocity of 15 m/s from
his shoulder height of 2 meters above the
ground. Calculate the range of the shot he can
achieve.
3 A typical gun used by Napoleon was found to
achieve a muzzle velocity of 60 m/s. What should
be the angle of elevation for the gun to hit a
target at 500 m away?
4. Modern tank guns are rated for a muzzle
velocity of 140 m/s. Calculate approximately the
range of these guns.
5 A pole vaulter attains a speed of 15 m/s and
then jumps up with the pole to clear the bar. If
the bar height is 15 feet, calculate the initial
velocity or speed he must attain, with an angle
of jump being 45 deg.
6 A car racer runs over a ramp at an angle of 25


degrees with a speed of 150 kmph. What would be
the range to cross over from the ramp-jump.?
[Ans: R = (41.7 m/s)
2
sin 50/g =e 135.9 m.]


Summary
1 Split the velocity vector into horizontal
component and vertical components:
u
x = U cos

u
y =U sin

2 The max height reached by a projectile is
given by:
s =H = u
y
t + (1/2) (-9.8) t
2

where t is the time to reach max height:
t = u
y
/g
where U is the initial velocity of the
projectile.
3 The range or horizontal distance reached by


the projectile:
R = u
x
(time of flight) = u
x
(2t).
We have neglected the air resisitance in all
these trajectory problems.

Suggestions for further reading

1 Feynmans' Lectures on physics
2 Douglas Giancoli -- Physics
3 Gamow and Cleveland --- Physics-Foundation
and Frontiers.
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