Horizontal Projectile

Motion

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INSTRUCTIONAL
OBJECTIVES:
OBJECTIVES
Define Projectile Motion
Distinguish between the different types of
projectile motion
Recognize that the vertical and horizontal motions
of a projectile are independent.
Relate the height, time in the air, and initial vertical
velocity of a projectile using its vertical motion, then
determine the range.

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VECTORS AND
SCALARS

RE
VI

EW

A vector has magnitude as

well as direction.
Some vector quantities:
displacement, velocity, force,
momentum
A scalar has only a magnitude.
Some scalar quantities: mass,
time, temperature
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RESOLVING
VECTORS

RE
VI

EW

In the last unit, we learned that a Resultant Vector (V) can

be expressed as the sum of the square of two other vectors,
which are called its components. Usually the other vectors
(Vy and Vx) are chosen so that they are perpendicular to
each other.

V2 = Vx2 + Vy2

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ANGLE OF
RESULTANT

RE
VI

EW

If the
components are
perpendicular,
the direction
and angle of the
resultant can be
found using
trigonometric
functions.
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RE
VI

VECTOR ANALYSIS

EW

Adding vectors:

Draw a diagram; add the vectors graphically.

Choose x and y axes.

Resolve each vector into x and y components.

Calculate each component using sines and cosines.

Add the components in each direction.

To find the length and direction of the vector, use:

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WHAT IS A
PROJECTILE?
A projectile is an object
moving in two
dimensions (non linear
path) under the influence
of Earth's gravity; its
path is a parabola.

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PROJECTILE
MOTION
Two-dimensional motion of an object

Vertical (x-direction)
Horizontal (y-direction)

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TYPES OF
PROJECTILE MOTION
Horizontal

Motion of a ball rolling freely along a

level surface
Horizontal velocity is ALWAYS constant

Vertical

Motion of a freely falling object

Force due to gravity
Vertical component of velocity changes
with time

Parabolic

Path traced by an object accelerating

only in the vertical direction while moving
at constant horizontal velocity

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Examples of Projectile
Motion

Launching a Cannon ball

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PATH OF
PROJECTILE
Projectile Motion Is Parabolic
In order to demonstrate that projectile motion is
parabolic, we need to write y as a function of x.
When we do, we find that it has the form:

This is indeed the equation

for a parabola. Notice its
similarity to:

d = vit + 1/2at2
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HORIZONTAL
PROJECTILE
MOTION
The speed in the x-direction is
constant; in the y-direction the
object moves with constant
acceleration g.
This photograph shows two balls
that start to fall at the same time.
The one on the right has an initial
speed in the x-direction. It can be
seen that vertical positions of the
two balls are identical at identical
times, while the horizontal position
of the yellow ball increases linearly.
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Equations
EQUATIONS FOR HORIZONTAL PROJECTILE
MOTION
Dy = vyit + at2
Dx= vxit
vy = vyi+ at.

(Used to find maximum height of a projectile.)

(Used to find the range of the projectile.)

(Used to find how fast the object is falling at any time t.)

Where vyi is the initial velocity in the y-direction (Normally zero!)

vxi is the initial velocity in the x-direction (constant!)
vy is the final velocity in at any time t
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Sample Problem
A movie stunt driver on a
motorcycle speeds horizontally off
a 50.0 m high cliff. How fast must
the motorcycle leave the cliff top if
it is to land on level ground below,
90.0 m from the base of the cliff
where the cameras are?

Dy = vyit + 1/2at2 where and vyo = 0

Solving for t, a= 9.8m/s2 and letting y = 50.0m, t = 3.19 s.

Dx= vxit

where t= 3.19s and x=90.0m,

Thus, vxi=28.2 m/s

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Summary
A vector quantity includes both magnitude and
direction, but a scalar quantity includes only magnitude.

The resultant of two perpendicular vectors is the

diagonal of a rectangle constructed with the two
vectors as sides

The perpendicular components of a vector are

independent of each other

Projectile motion is the motion of an object near the

Earths surface under the influence of gravity.

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Summary
The horizontal component of motion is first like the
horizontal motion of a ball rolling freely along a level
surface without friction. The vertical component of a
projectiles velocity is like the motion for a freely falling
object.

The downward motion of a horizontally launched

projectile is the same as that of free fall

MIT LECTURE SUMMARY ON VECTORS

AND PROJECTILE MOTION:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5277638361219102296&ei=0TPCSsi4LYb0lQ
ezlunhBg&q=mit+vector&hl=en#
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