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. T

    Eccentricity of projectile in Newtonian gravitational model

    When we were taught gravitation, we were taught that if a projectile (with mass very less compared to that of the Earth) is projected from the Earth, its path is: 1. Ellipse, if the velocity is less than critical (orbital) velocity. 2. Circle, if the velocity is exactly equal to critical...
  2. R

    Projectile Motion from a height with Air Resistance

    Hey all, me again. This time my question has to do with projectile motion with air resistance from a given height. Homework Statement A cannon is located on a cliff of height h. If the muzzle velocity of a projectile is v0, find the range of the projectile when the drag is proportional to the...
  3. Y

    Projectile Motion above Ground

    Homework Statement 3) A projectile is launched with speed v₀ at an angle α₀ above the horizontal. The launch point is a height H above the ground. Ignore air resistance. (a.) Find the horizontal velocity of the projectile. (b.) Find the time for projectile to reach its maximum height...
  4. A

    Projectile being launched from ground level

    Homework Statement A projectile is fired from ground level with an initial velocity of 50 m/s and an initial angle of 37°. Assuming g = 9.8 m/s^2, find: a) the projectiles total time of flight. b) the maximum height attained c) the total horizontal distance traveled d) the final horizontal...
  5. A

    Projectile Motion: Clearing a Fence?

    Homework Statement A ball is batted with a velocity of 30 m/s at an angle of 30 degrees above the horizontal from a height of 1.0 m above the ground. Will the ball clear a 2.5 m high fence which is 30 m away? By how much will it miss or clear? Homework Equations ballistic path equation? delta...
  6. G

    Projectile Motion Problem Help

    I am in an Honors Physics I class at my school and we are just starting to learn about projectile motion. I am having a bit of trouble with some homework and am in need of help. Problems: 1. I kick a rock horizontally off a ledge that is 20 m high. Once in the air, the rock is in free-fall...
  7. P

    Projectile Motion Problem (Object thrown from the top of a cliff)

    1. If an object is thrown with a horizontal velocity of 32 m/s and a vertical velocity of 24 m/s from the top of a cliff that is 230 m in height (on the moon where the acceleration is found to be 1.6 m/s^2), how long will the object be in flight? 2. Δd = v1Δt+1/2aΔt^2, Δd =...
  8. D

    Angled Projectile at an elevated height w/o a given angle

    Homework Statement Many modern 3D video games must be designed such that objects move in ways as close as possible to reality. This is often called “game physics”, which is run by a physics engine coded into the game. In one event of a recent game, a player’s job is to shoot a cannon at...
  9. M

    Kinematic and Projectile motion equations

    Homework Statement Find the angle of the projection for which the maximum height is equal half of the range. Homework Equations Kinematic and Projectile motion equations
  10. I

    Projectile motion problem where the projectile is a rocket

    Homework Statement A rocket is launched at an angle of 53° above the horizontal with an initial speed of 75 m/s. It moves in powered flight along its initial line of motion with an acceleration of 25 m/s^2. At 30 s(seconds) from launch, its engine fails and the rocket continues to move as a...
  11. K

    Kinematics with projectile motion(2 questions)

    1) Jim decides to jump a gorge on his skateboard. The gorge is 50 m wide and jim has constructed a 1 m high ramp iclined at 30 degrees to the horizontal. If air resistance is neglected, calculate what speed Bart must reach if he is to land safely on the other side of the gorge. The answer is...
  12. S

    Projectile Motion, finding minimum speed

    Homework Statement A gazelle leaps over a 2.1m fence. Assuming a 45° takeoff angle, what is the minimum speed?Homework Equations 1. x=v0x * t 2. y = v0y * t - 1/2gt2 3. vy = v0y - gt 4. vy2 = v0y2 - 2gΔyThe Attempt at a Solution I assumed at the top of the leap, vy=0 m/s, so I used equation 4...
  13. P

    Basketball Projectile Motion problem

    Homework Statement You throw a basketball towards a basketball hoop that is 4.92 m away from you, and 0.457 above the release point at 30 degrees above the horizontal (assume g = 10 m/s2) How fast does the ball have to leave your hand to pass through the hoop on its way down? Homework...
  14. D

    Projectile Motion: Skateboarder on a Ramp

    Homework Statement A skateboarder starts up a 1.0--high, 30 ramp at a speed of 7.9 . The skateboard wheels roll without friction. How far from the end of the ramp does the skateboarder touch down? Homework Equations x=x0+v0t+.5(a)(t2) v=v0+at The Attempt at a Solution This...
  15. D

    Angled Projectile at an elevated height

    Homework Statement Many modern 3D video games must be designed such that objects move in ways as close as possible to reality. This is often called “game physics”, which is run by a physics engine coded into the game. In one event of a recent game, a player’s job is to shoot a cannon at...
  16. M

    Beginner Projectile Motion problem

    Homework Statement Fire a cannon ball at 30 degrees above the horizontal with an initial speed of 65 m/s from the top of a building 50 m high. Find the total time the cannon ball is in the air. What's the horizontal distance from the base of the building when the ball strikes the ground...
  17. W

    Projectile Motion Quarterback Throw

    Homework Statement A quarterback claims that he can throw the football a horizontal distance of 193 m. Furthermore, he claims that he can do this by launching the ball at the relatively low angle of 32.1 ° above the horizontal. To evaluate this claim, determine the speed with which this...
  18. T

    Simple projectile motion problem

    Homework Statement In the figure, a baseball is hit at a height h = 1.20 m and then caught at the same height. It travels alongside a wall, moving up past the top of the wall 1.2 s after it is hit and then down past the top of the wall 4.1 s later, at distance D = 55 m farther along the wall...
  19. S

    Projectile Motion- Deriving equation

    Homework Statement Part 1- Derive an algebraic expression for the time-of-flight of a projectile launched with initial speed v0 from a height h at an angle θ above horizontal. (Use any variable or symbol stated above along with the following as necessary: g. Do not substitute numerical...
  20. T

    Projectile Motion Questions

    1. A projectile is launched at an angle of 45.0 degrees above the horizontal and lands at the same level from which it was launched 3.69 seconds later. The magnitude of the initial velocity is _____ m/s 2. If θo is the angle of elevation above the horizontal at which a projectile is launched...
  21. P

    Projectile motion: Finding flight distance with air resistance

    Homework Statement A ball of mass 9N is shot from a slingshot at an angle of 60° from the ground. The slingshot is sitting 1m above the ground. The elasticity of the slingshot is k = 700N/m. Take gravity = 10m/s^2 Air resistance must be taken into account also. Use the formula D = (...
  22. T

    Projectile moting and checking an answer with another equation doesn't work.

    Homework Statement Firemen are shooting a stream of water at a burning building using a high-pressure hose that shoots out the water with a speed of 25.0 as it leaves the end of the hose. Once it leaves the hose, the water moves in projectile motion. The firemen adjust the angle of elevation...
  23. K

    How to Calculate Projectile Motion for a Marble in a Lab Experiment

    Projectile Motion Lab! PLEASE HELP THIS IS FOR TOMORROW. I am a high school student in Grade 12. We are currently doing projectile motion. We are using a marble. The teacher said that we should neglect air resistance because it is a very heavy marble. The marble, in the projector, is...
  24. S

    Projectile Motion ~ AP Physics (A rifle is fired at an angle of )

    A rifle is fired at an angle of 25° below the horizontal with an initial velocity of 400 m/s from the top of a cliff 60.0m high. How far from the base of the cliff does the bullet land? This is what I did, but I'm not sure if its right: y-component→ v=400sin(25°) ∴v=169.05 x-component→...
  25. T

    Projectile Motion given only x and y distance

    Homework Statement The question reads: Luke Skywalker is dropping a bomb down a ventilation shaft on the Death Star. The circular shaft has a diameter of 1m. When the bomb is released, Luke's X-wing start-fighter is 200m above the shaft's opening and 500m horizontally from the front edge of...
  26. A

    Football/receiver projectile motion

    Homework Statement A football is thrown toward a receiver with an initial speed of 20.0 m/s at an angle of 30.0o above the horizontal. At that instant, the receiver is 20.0 m from the quaterback. In what direction and with what constant speed should the receiver run in order to catch the...
  27. P

    Projectile motion - velocity and distance

    Projectile motion -- velocity and distance Homework Statement A projectile is launched with an initial speed of 60 m/s at an angle of 30 degrees above the horizontal. The projectile lands on a hillside 4 seconds later. Neglect air friction. What is the projectile's velocity at the...
  28. V

    Projectile Motion Problem #2: Calculating Time Spent in Upper Half of Jump

    If a player jumps with an initial speed of Vo = 7 m/s at an angle of 35, what percent of the jump's range does the player spend in the upper half of the jump? So Vo = 7m/s that means that Voy = 7sin60 and Vox = 7cos60 right? I understand (i think) that if I can find how long it takes for the...
  29. V

    Projectile motion stone throw problem

    A stone is projected at a cliff of height h with an initial speed of 42m/s directed at angle=60 above the horizontal. The stone strikes at A, 5.5s after launching. Find A) the height h of the cliff, B) the speed of the stone just before impact at A, and C) the maximum height H reached above the...
  30. E

    Projectile motion, Cat jumping off table

    Homework Statement A cat jumps off of the table with a velocity vi at an angle θ. The table is h meters tall. How far away from the table is the cat? V(x) = ViCosθ V(y) = ViSinθ Homework Equations I first solved for time using 0 = Xi + Vit +1/2a(t^2)The Attempt at a Solution I got time as...
  31. L

    Projectile Motion: Accleration along an incline.

    Homework Statement I don't need help with a homework question so much as a clarification of a concept. I realize that in projectile motion on a horizontal plane, horizontal acceleration is 0. But if an object is launched from the top of an incline (shaped like \), there is both an acceleration...
  32. V

    Minimum initial velocity of the projectile launched at what angle

    Homework Statement Assume there is a wall located 100m downrange (x=100) from the projectile launching position (x=0) that is 55m (y=55) high. What is the minimum initial velocity of the projectile launched at what angle necessary to clear the wall? Homework Equations h=(v^2sin^2α)/2g...
  33. O

    How Does Maximum Range Affect Projectile Separation at Equal Heights?

    A projectile is fired with an initial velocity v such that it passes through two points that are both a distance h above the horizontal. Show that if the gun is adjusted for maximum range the separation of the two points is d = v/g \sqrt{v^2 - 4gh} Homework Equations I have been struggling...
  34. N

    Projectile Motion Problem: Finding Minimum Jumping Speed of a Salmon

    Homework Statement starting at 2.00m away from a waterfall .55m in height, at what minimum speed must a salmon jumping at an angle of 32.0° leave the water to continue upstream? Homework Equations Δx=vi(cosθ)Δt Δy=vi(sinθ)Δt-1/2g(Δt)2 The Attempt at a Solution there were some other...
  35. M

    Calculating Projectile Motion: Time to Reach 10m Below Launch Point

    A ball is tossed from an upper story window of a building. It has an initial velocity of 8.00 m/s at an angle of 20 degrees below the horizontal. How long does it take the ball to reach a point 10.0m below the level of launching. I tried using the equation yf=vi(sin(theta))-.5gt^2 Which I...
  36. K

    I give up Basketball Projectile problem.

    Homework Statement A basketball leaves a player's hands at a height of 2.20 above the floor. The basket is 2.90 above the floor. The player likes to shoot the ball at a 40.0 degree angle. If the shot is made from a horizontal distance of 6.00 and must be accurate to plus or minus .22...
  37. K

    Very Stuck on Deriving Projectile Motion Formulas

    Very Stuck on Deriving Projectile Motion Formulas Hey, I need some help :( . I've got an exam next Thursday, and I really suck at this stuff right now. So I need to get better! We are studying kinematics (1d and 2d). In this problem I need help with, we are given the attached diagram...
  38. S

    Projectile problem: throwing something off a tower

    Homework Statement Tossing a water balloon from a building at an angle of 30 degrees. Inital velocity is 3 m/s and the window which the balloon is thrown is 50 m from the ground. for vertical velocity i got 2.6m/s, horizontal i got 1.5 m/s There are 4 pts. A is the starting point. B is...
  39. AnTiFreeze3

    Finding Maximum Height of a Projectile

    Homework Statement A basketball player is awarded free-throws. The center of the basket is 4.21m from the foul line and 3.05m from the ground. On the first free throw he throws the ball at an angle of 35 degrees above the horizontal with a speed of v_0 = 4.88 m/s. The ball is released 1.83m...
  40. B

    Football Projectile Motion Homework: Solving for Angle and Formula

    Homework Statement a football is kicked at a certain angle above the horizontal. the vertical component of its initial velocity is 40 m/s and the horizontal component is 50 m/s.Homework Equations what is the angle in the problem? what kind of formula can i use?
  41. L

    Odd projectile motion question.

    Homework Statement Question: "The time of flight of the lure through the air is 3.4 seconds. (g= 9.8m/s/s) Calculate the maximum height of the lure in its projectile motion." Homework Equations Not sure if I need to use this: d = (u)(t) + (1/2)(a)(t^2) The Attempt at a Solution...
  42. M

    Projectile Motion: Calculating Range, Maximum Height, Speed & Angle

    Urgent! projectile motion Heyy every1 Q Exactly 2.7s after a projectile is fired into the air from the ground ,it is observed to have a velocity v = (8.8i+4.5 j) m/s where the x-axis is horizontal and the y-axis is positive upward . a)Determine the horizontal range of the projectile...
  43. S

    Calculating Projectile Distance: A Theme Park Curiosity

    Was not sure where to post this specifically, but I am looking to calculate the possible distance traveled by by a projectile from a set height, speed, and release. Its just curiosity from seeing a new ride being brought to my local theme park. Height of release is 121.92 meters. Mass of...
  44. Darth Frodo

    Projectile on horizontal surface

    Homework Statement A particle is projected with a speed of 98 m s−1 at an angle A to the horizontal. The range of the particle is 940·8 m. Find (i) the two values of A The Attempt at a Solution U = 98cosAi + 98sinAj i direction s = ut 940.8 = 98cosAt j direction s = ut...
  45. U

    Initial velocity of projectile given angle and max height

    Homework Statement A projectile was fired across level ground at an initial angle of 43.00 degrees above the horizontal. During its flight, it reached a maximum height of 2974 metres. What was the initial speed of this projectile? Homework Equations I assume that the correct equation...
  46. C

    Simple Projectile Motion of a rock

    Homework Statement A rock dropped from a cliff covers one-third of its total distance to the ground in the last second of its fall. Air resistance is negligible. How high is the cliff? Homework Equations v = v0 + at2 h = v0t + 0.5at2 v2 = v02 + 2ahh = distance in this case The Attempt at a...
  47. M

    Projectile: know only launch velocity, max height, and distance

    Suppose you know only these three things about a launched projectile: - Initial launch velocity (magnitude only, not direction) - Maximum height reached - Horizontal distance traveled before hitting the ground Is it possible to find the initial height, launch angle, and airtime of this...
  48. M

    Solving Projectile w/ Initial Height, Height Max, Horiz Dist.

    Hi everyone, I'm trying to design a formula that determines the launch velocity, launch angle, and time spent in the air for a projectile if only the initial launch height, maximum height reached, and total horizontal distance traveled before the projectile hits the ground are known. It's not...
  49. D

    Why Do Horizontally Fired and Vertically Dropped Bullets Land Simultaneously?

    Why does a bullet fired horizontal and bullet dropped vertically downward, land at the same time? Shouldn't the object thrown downward fall sooner as it has a shorter distance to cover even though gravity pulls both of the down at the same rate? Does it have to do anything with the fact that...
  50. A

    Does a sling or a gun exert more initial force of the projectile?

    First of all this is probably the only time I will be on this forum. At first this seems a no brainer. But I am a weekend survivalist and I made a sling that can sling rock a little more then 1" in diameter 120 yards at an angle of about 50-55 degrees. After some research the type of rock I...
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