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. Jacquelyn

    Uniform Circular Motion and Projectile Motion Help

    Homework Statement A 60 g ball is tied to the end of a 40-cm-long string and swung in a vertical circle. The center of the circle is 150 cm above the floor. The ball is swung at the minimum speed necessary to make it over the top without the string going slack. If the string is released at the...
  2. J

    How Far Will the Glasses Land from the Stopped Bicycle?

    Homework Statement A m=77.39 kg person on a bike is riding at v0,b=11.83 m/s. Suddenly, he sees a child running across his path! He applies the brakes that provide a deceleration of a= -4.192 m/s2. His glasses were not attached properly to his face, so they fly away and land on the pavement...
  3. J

    Projectile motion with only distance, an angle and a ratio

    Homework Statement launch angle of θ=41.86°. The distance to the wall is d=11.06 m, and it strikes the wall with speed that is a fraction f=0.925 of the initial speed, while it is still gaining height (i.e., it has not the highest point of the trajectory). What is the initial velocity? Express...
  4. T

    Projectile motion with non-uniform gravity.

    I am trying to answer a question about projectile motion were the change in height is that significant that the gravity cannot be assumed constant.
  5. DracoMalfoy

    Projectile Motion Kinematics: A catapult launches a rock....

    Homework Statement A catapult launches a rock with an initial velocity of 50m/s at 35 degrees above the horizontal. The rock must clear 3.5m at 10m away in order to make it over a castle wall to get to the enemy. Do the knights succeed? By how much do they clear the wall or miss clearing the...
  6. DracoMalfoy

    Projectile Motion Kinematics: Finding maximum height

    Homework Statement A ball is kicked with an initial speed of 20m/s at an angle of 50° above the horizontal. What maximum height does the ball reach? Homework Equations Vfx=VicosΘ Δx=VicosΘt Vfy=(VisinΘ)+ay⋅t (Vfy)^2=(VisinΘ)^2+2ay⋅Δy Δy=1/2(Vfy+(VisinΘ))⋅t The Attempt at a Solution I...
  7. A

    Projectile motion of a cannon ball versus time

    Homework Statement A cannon is inclined about the horizontal by an angle of 45° and it launches projectiles with initial velocity of ##v_p=300m/s##. A small airplane moves horizontally with a constant velocity of ##-100m/s##(so it is directed to the cannon) at high of ##500m##. If at ##t=0s##...
  8. S

    Air resistance in projectile motion

    In lower-division physics classes, air resistance is usually ignored to make the mathematics of projectile motion easier to understand. When air resistance is included, it's often stated that at lower velocities, air resistance is proportional to the velocity of the object, Fair ∝ kv At...
  9. AkshayM

    Projectile Motion and acceleration of particle

    Homework Statement If a particle moves in X-Y plane with acceleration non zero in X and Y , the particle will not move in a parabolic path True or False ? Homework Equations X = UxT + 1/2(Ax)T^2 Y= UyT + 1/2 (Ay)T^2The Attempt at a Solution The equation of trajectory that i came up with...
  10. P

    Projectile Motion: Initial Velocity Derivation

    Hey guys, I am working on a school project and have fired some water rockets at different angles. I am now trying to compare theoretical results vs experimental results. But I am struggling to produce an accurate mathematical model. I have attached my attempt to this post. It is quite long and...
  11. C

    Air resistance - freefall and horizontal projectile motion

    We have two identical balls sitting at the same height. One of them is released without applying any force (it falls freely) and the other one is given a non-zero horizontal velocity. Which of them will hit the ground first? The force of air resistance is proportional to the square of the...
  12. L

    What Calculations Determine the Volleyball's Trajectory in Projectile Motion?

    The volleyball player serves the ball from pt.A w/ an initial Vo at angle theta to the horizontal. If the ball just cleared the net at pt. C and landed on the base at line B. Determine the value of theta. Determine the value of Vo. Determine the time reach to the highest point at the...
  13. Beth N

    Projectile Motion: time it takes for projectile to hit truck

    Homework Statement Problem: 5. 37 [/B] With reference to the figure below, the projectile is fired with an initial velocity ##v_0=35 m/s ## at θ=23°. Truck is moving along X with constant speed of 15m/s At instant projectile is fired, back of truck is at x=45m Find time for the projectile to...
  14. B

    Projectile orientation near apogee

    How do I determine how much drag is required to orient a spinning spherical projectile with a small parachute just before apogee? The projectile is going straight up. The parachute will not be deployed until around 6.5 seconds into flight when the object is traveling at 14.2 m/s. This isn't a...
  15. I

    In projectile motion, why we take y-component for 'TF'?

    In projectile motion, we have two components one is x and another is y. x = u cosθ and y = u sinθ But why do I take the' y' component for calculating the 'time of flight' not the 'x' component? y = ut sinθ - 1/2 gt^2, t = 2u sinθ / g
  16. X

    Question regarding projectile motion

    I was in physics class a while ago and my teacher had the trajectory of a projectile on the board. he was marking off points on it, and next to each point, right after he marked it off, he wrote 1/2 next to it, then crossed it off while saying "1/2", then proceeded like that, marking off the...
  17. Liszzy

    Key equation with uniform acceleration and projectile motion

    << Mentor Note -- thread moved from the New Member Introduction forum because of the general nature of the question >> Hi guys, I'm Liszzy newly join physics group. How are you everyone? I'm doing my Canadian diploma in physics and need help from you guys. I've doubt in Kinematic chapter...
  18. C

    I Integration - Projectile Motion w/ Air Resistance

    I"ve seen several texts that say something like this: Our equation of motion along x is dvx/dt = -g(vx/vt) Integrating this, we obtain equation 178 at this link (pretty near the top; sorry, but I can't figure out how to put the equation here). It's from FitzPatrick's online notes for...
  19. J

    Projectile Motion on the Moon: Finding the Optimal Launch Angle Using Equations

    Homework Statement A cannon can shoot whatever cannons shoot at different angles to the horizon, but with the same initial velocity. At what angle does the cannon shoot to a maximal distance? What would be that angle on the moon? Homework Equations d is the total horizontal distance traveled...
  20. B

    Projectile with linear drag

    Homework Statement A beach ball is thrown upwards with initial speed v0. The drag force is given by Fd = −mαv for a drag coefficient α and speed v. (a) the height h reached (b) Show that the height may be expressed in terms of the final speed when the ball strikes the ground vf (c)Finally show...
  21. J

    Is there a quicker way to solve this projectile problem?

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I solved this problem and got the correct answer 108 m . But I had to solve a DE . This question is from a test where we get around 1 minute to solve a problem . I took half an hour to solve it :wideeyed: . It looks like a...
  22. Suyash Singh

    Projectile motion, potential and kinetic energy

    Homework Statement https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/upload_2018-4-29_12-40-30-png.224871/ Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution 1/2mv^2=10 1/2m(ucos60)^2=10 1/2mu^2/4=10 mu^2=80 what to do now?
  23. Theia

    MHB Max Horizontal Displacement of Projectile and its Velocity at T

    Let x = v_0\cos \alpha _0 t and y = y_0 + v_0 \sin \alpha _0 t - \tfrac{1}{2} gt^2, where v_0 is speed at time t = 0, \alpha _0 is the angle between positive x-axis and initial velocity vector (\alpha _0 \in (0, \pi/2)), t time in seconds, y_0 >0 the y coordinate at time t=0, g acceleration...
  24. S

    When to use quadratic equations?

    Hello everyone! Apologies if this is a very repetitive question but I have gone through previous forum posts and am still struggling to understand how to identify which equations are appropriate. In the problem below, I have used the kinematic equation of "v = v(i) + at" but my answer is...
  25. S

    Relationship between Launch height and range of a projectile

    Homework Statement In a practical that we conducted, we were investigating the relationship between Launch height and the range (horizontal distance it travels) of a projectile. We launched a projectile from various heights and measured the horizontal range it traveled before reaching the...
  26. S

    B Relationship between launch height and range

    In a projectile motion practical, we had to investigate the relationship between launch of projectile and the range it travels. Increasing the height will obviously increase the range. However, we are trying to understand why it does in a more scientific way. We already know that increasing...
  27. MIIF

    Is it possible to find dy given the values of dx and v?

    Homework Statement This isn't really a homework problem/question. I am just wondering if it is possible to calculate the vertical distance (dy) when the only given values are those of the horizontal distance (dx) and velocity (v). An example of this projectile-motion problem would be this: A...
  28. R

    Projectile Motion Graph Analysis

    Homework Statement A golf ball is struck at ground level. The speed of the golf ball as a function of the time is shown in Fig. 4-36, where t = 0 at the instant the ball is struck. The scaling on the vertical axis is set by ##v_a = 19~m/s## and ##v_b = 31~m/s##. (a) How far does the golf ball...
  29. M

    Deriving an equation to find theta: Projectile motion

    1. the question is this: a projectile's speed at launch is four times its speed at the top of the trajectory. What is the launch angle? I am given no numerical values, but from my understanding gravity is a constant 9.8, and at the maximum height velocity should be equal to 0. 2.the equation...
  30. N

    Projectile motion - microgravity astronaut training

    Homework Statement In microgravity astronaut training and equipment testing, NASA flies an aircraft along a parabolic flight path. The aircraft climbs from 24,000 ft to 31,000 ft, where it enters a parabolic path with a velocity of 143 m/s nose high at 45.0° and exits with velocity 143 m/s at...
  31. yaniv arazi

    Projectile motion: Two Balls and Building

    Homework Statement 1.[/B] two balls are thrown vertically from two points on a building. at the bottom of the building ball 1 is thrown and from the roof ball 2 is thrown. ball one reaches its maximum height after three seconds and ball two after one second. after two seconds the balls cross...
  32. isukatphysics69

    Projectile Motion Problem: Maximum Height of a Ball Shot into the Air

    A ball is shot from the ground into the air. At a height of 9.1 m, its velocity vector (in unit vector notation) is (7.6i - 4.9j) m/s; that is, vx = 7.6 m/s and vy = -4.9 m/s. What was the maximum height of of the ball above the ground? I swear to god i have been working on this for 2 hours...
  33. vAhmed

    Find final velocity in a horizontal projectile motion

    Homework Statement A ball was thrown from a cliff, it reached to the ground after 2.5 seconds. a) Find the height of the cliff. b) Find the horizontal distance the ball reached. Homework Equations Δy = 2⋅g⋅t^2 Vfy = g⋅t √(Vfy)^2+(Vfx)^2 Δx= Vx⋅t The Attempt at a Solution I've found Δy=30.6m...
  34. T

    Optimal Velocity for Projectile Path over a Sloped Roof

    Homework Statement What is the minimum initial velocity that has to be given to a stone in order to throw it across a sloped roof? The roof has width b, its two edges have heights a and c. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution i decided to start simpler so so i first looked at if was...
  35. D

    A projectile's initial velocity without time?

    Homework Statement A projectile is launched: Horizontally, with an average displacement of 49 cm Vertically, with an average displacement of 28 cm At a 23 degree angle, with average displacement of 126 cm Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I am sad to say I don't know how to do it...
  36. K

    Projectile Motion: stream of water

    Homework Statement (For this problem ignore the height of the firefighter) A firefighter, a distance (d) from a building, shoots a stream of water at an initial angle, above the horizontal, at initial speed (Vo). At what height (h) does the water strike the building? No values were given to...
  37. T

    Trajectory of a Projectile that must clear an obstruction

    I am trying to solve for Vy with given Vx. I know how to do this for the BLUE trajectory line, but I do not know how to solve this if there is an obstruction in the way (like the gray wall). My givens are: X1 X2 Y1 Y2 Vx Gravity Do I need to solve for the blue trajectory then adjust that for...
  38. Suyash Singh

    Projectile motion and parabola

    Homework Statement A partice is projected at an angle 60 degrees with the speed 10 m/s. Then latus rectum is ? g= 10 m /s^2 Homework Equations i calculated the maximum height.Now what?? The Attempt at a Solution h= u u sin theta sin theta/2g
  39. Suyash Singh

    What Is the Optimal Firing Angle for Maximum Range When a Car Moves at 20 m/s?

    Homework Statement The maximum range of a bullet fired from a toy pistol mounted on a car at rest is R0=40m . What will be the acute angle of inclination of the pistol for maximum range when the car is moving in the direction of firing with uniform v=velocity 20m/s, on a horizontal surface ...
  40. Jay123

    Working on a simple(ish) projectile motion problem for a gaming program

    Hello ladies and gentlemen I am working on a Unity 3d game project and I am in need of some physics guidance. You probably know Unity3d has a built in physics engine, and if you don't you do now. :) I am determined to figure this out more or less on my own but I need some assistance with the...
  41. D

    Question about vacuum powered projectiles

    I'm writing a novel and wanted to research a possible weapon I came up with to make sure the physics are at least possible. However, I could not find anything on vacuum-based projectiles other than ping-pong balls, while this is interesting, but it doesn't answer my question on what would happen...
  42. R

    Projectile motion above ground given only angle and height

    Homework Statement I'm having trouble with part A of this question 1. A ball is fired out at an angle of 30° from the platform of height h = 0.5 m as shown in Figure 1. It is subjected to the gravitational force only thus follows a projectile motion. It falls onto the ground after 0.6...
  43. L

    Exploring Projectile Motion in Reduced Gravity: Calculating Football Distance

    Homework Statement A student can throw a football a max range of 60 meters. How far could he throw it if the Earth's gravity were reducted to 1/6 of its normal value , similar to the moon's gravity? Homework Equations v = .5at^2 The Attempt at a Solution I feel like i did this wrong but x =...
  44. Y

    Calculating Projectile Distance on Pluto

    Homework Statement An astronaut throws a rock at 12 m/s at an angle of 25° above horizontal from a height of 3.25 m above the surface. How far horizontally does the rock travel before hitting the surface of Pluto? Pluto has a mass of 1.27 E22 kg And a radius of 1.14E6 m Homework Equations...
  45. C

    Projectile Kinetic Energy and Recoil in Spring Gun Experiment

    Homework Statement A projectile of mass M1 is fired horizontally from a spring gun that is initially at rest on a frictionless surface. The combined mass of the gun and projectile is M2. If the kinetic energy of the projectile after firing is K, the gun will recoil with a kinetic energy equal...
  46. F

    Projectile Motion Problem (Physics 12) -- Apple core thrown from a tree

    Homework Statement A child sitting in a tree throws his apple core from where he is perched (4.0m high) with a velocity of 5.0 m/s [35 degrees above horizontal], and it hits the ground right next to his friend. A) How long is it before the apple core hits the ground? B) How far from the base...
  47. K

    Need help with projectile motion problem

    I found this interesting problem on the internet, but I think there is not enough infromation to solve. "At the 1998 Punkin Chunkin World Championship, a pneumatically-driven device called the "Aludium Q36 Pumpkin Modulator" was able to project a 3.6-4.5 kg (8-10 pound) pumpkin intact for a...
  48. V

    Conservation of Energy and projectile motion

    I am finishing up a lab write up for conservation of energy, where we launched a projectile into the air and measured the initial velocity and height of the projectile. ( 10 trials) One of my questions asks if I wanted the ball (projectile) to travel twice as high, how much faster would it have...
  49. E

    Projectile Motion: Determining Launch Angle

    Homework Statement A hunter aims a high velocity semi-automatic rifle at a moose that is 500.0 m away in a direct line of sight. The moose stands 40.0 m below the horizontal in a depression with a bog at the bottom. The muzzle velocity is 2500.0 feet per second and the sight on the rifle is...
  50. E

    Projectile Motion of football receiver

    Homework Statement A football receiver running straight downfield at 5.5m/s is 10m in front of the quarterback when a pass is thrown downfield at 25 degrees above the horizon. If the receiver never changes speed and the ball is caught at the same height from which it was thrown find initial...
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