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. R

    Need Help Deriving Projectile Motion Equations

    Could someone please assist me in deriving the following projectile motion equations from the following kinematics equations? Kinematics Equations: Δx = v0xt + ½at2 ; Δy = v0yt + ½at2 vx = v0x + at ; vy = v0y + at Δx = ½(v0x + vx)t ; Δy = ½(v0y + vy)t vx2 = v0x2 + 2aΔx ; vy2 = v0y2 + 2aΔy...
  2. Austin Chang

    Projectile Motion of thrown ball

    Homework Statement A person throws a ball at a 45 degree angle and hits a given target. How much quicker does the ball get to the target if the person instead throws the ball with the same speed v0 but at the angle that makes the trajectory consist of two identical bumps, as shown (Assume...
  3. Austin Chang

    Simple 2-D Projectile Motion Question

    Homework Statement A ball is thrown horizontally from the top of the cliff of height H. It hits the ground a distance H from the bottom of the cliff. What was the initial speed? X coordinate v0 = ? a = 0 m/s2 x0 = 0 xf = H Y coordinate v0 a = -9.8 m/s2 y0 = H yf = 0 Homework Equations a(t) = a...
  4. K

    Projectile Motion Equation: Calculating Height from Initial Velocity and Time

    Homework Statement A ball is tossed from an upper-story window of a building. The ball is given an initial velocity of 7.90m/s at an angle of 21.9deg below the horizontal. It strikes the ground 2.95s later. Calculate the height from which the ball was thrown. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a...
  5. Mr Davis 97

    Maximize the distance of projectile on a hill

    Homework Statement An athlete stands at the peak of a hill that slopes downward uniformly at angle ##\phi##. At what angle ##\theta## from the horizontal should they throw a rock so that it has the greatest range? Homework Equations SUVAT equations and trig relations The Attempt at a Solution...
  6. Erenjaeger

    Projectile motion of skateboarder problem

    Homework Statement The drawing shows a skateboarder moving at 6.60 m/s along a horizontal section of a track that is slanted upward by θ = 48.0° above the horizontal at its end, which is 0.700 m above the ground. When she leaves the track, she follows the characteristic path of projectile...
  7. J

    The Centre of mass of an exploding projectile

    I know that the centre of mass moves in the path (the parabola) that the intact projectile would have followed but does the answer change if the new (broken) masses also have a vertical component of velocity?
  8. K

    Equation of projectile with drag and lift

    I need an equation that solves for the height of a projectile at a specific x position. The known variables are spin of the ball, initial position, initial velocity, initial launch angle and the drag and lift coefficients.
  9. C

    Circular + Projectile Motion question

    Homework Statement A ball was placed in a frictionless circular track with radius R and given initial velocity of u.The ball went around the cricle ,left at some point,then arrived in the same initial position after undergoing projectile motion. a.State the speed u in terms of R and g...
  10. S

    Projectile hitting the incline plane horizontally

    Homework Statement A projectile is thrown at angle θ with an inclined plane of inclination 45o . Find θ if projectile strikes the inclined the plane horizontal Homework Equations Taking x-axis along the incline and y-axis perpendicular to incline.[/B] Vx=ucosθ - gsint(45)t Vy=usinθ -...
  11. J

    Finding range of a projectile from a graph

    Hey, I am writing a report where I am trying to investigate the effect of initial velocity on the range of a projectile. Does anyone know any graphs I could use to help me find the range? Thanks,
  12. C

    Projectile Velocity for Perpendicular Impact on an Inclined Plane

    Homework Statement A projectile is launched at height h with velocity v with 0 degrees angle with respect to the ground from the bottom of an inclined plane with an angle of theta.Determine the particle's velocity so that it strikes the inclined plane perpendiculary. Homework Equations...
  13. Z

    Intro Physics Resources for Vertical Projectile Motion

    Hello I am in my final year of schooling in South Africa. For Physics, we do a module called Vertical Projectile Motion & Graphs. This section uses equations of motion etc. I cannot seem to find the online resources for me to truly master this section. The sites I have are of projectile motion...
  14. N

    Projectile Motion: Solving for Angle and Time

    Homework Statement A projectile is launched from the top of a 200m tower upwards at a non-vertical angle above level horizontal ground with an initial velocity of 84m/s and rises to a maximum height of 240m above ground level. Determine the angle of projection and time and flights. Answer is...
  15. N

    Projectile Angle and Distance problem

    Homework Statement A projectile was launched from the top of a 100m tower upward at an angle theta to the horizontal with an initial velocity of 36m/s. The time of flight of the projectile was 8 seconds. Determine: i) The angle of projection ii) The maximum height reached by the projectile...
  16. P

    Calculating Maximum Height in Projectile Motion on a Trampoline

    Homework Statement You jump straight upward off a trampoline with an initial velocity of 30 km/h. How high above the trampoline will you reach? Homework Equations v2=v1 + a x t & v2(square root)=v1(square root) + 2adThe Attempt at a Solution I tried 30km/h into the...
  17. LiliPling

    Treating a projectile like a rotational system?

    Homework Statement A projectile of mass m is fired from ground level with speed v0 and at angle ##\theta## with respect to the horizontal. Basically there is a projectile from start to finish, with an pivot starting at the x coordinate for the highest point on the projectile. The teacher wants...
  18. A

    The speed of a projectile when it reaches its maximum height

    Homework Statement The speed of a projectile when it reaches its maximum height is one-half its speed when it is at half its maxi- mum height. What is the initial projection angle of the projectile? Homework Equations Vf2 = vi2 + 2axThe Attempt at a Solution I know that the speed at the top...
  19. N

    Projectile motion motorcycle jump

    Homework Statement The current world-record motorcycle jump is 77.0 m, set by Jason Renie. Assume that he left the take-off ramp at 12.0º to the horizontal and that the take-off and landing heights are the same. Neglecting air drag, determine his take-off speed Homework Equations R =...
  20. Le_Anthony

    Projectile is fired over level ground

    Homework Statement A projectile is fired over level ground with an initial velocity that has a vertical component of 20 m/s and a horizontal component of 30 m/s. Using g = 10 m/s2, the distance from launching to landing points is: Homework Equations Vi(t) +0.5at^2 The Attempt at a Solution I...
  21. T

    Linear Induction Coilgun with superconducting projectile

    If you have: A Linear Induction Coilgun, basically like a series of Induction Furnaces, using copper coils with high AC current at a high frequency. Where the projectile traveling inside those coils has a shorted superconducting coil around the outside of it, embedded in the ceramic projectile...
  22. E

    Kinematics question: Projectile trajectory given velocity, height at one instant

    Homework Statement A ball is shot from ground into the air. at height 8.3m, its velocity is 7.8i + 6.5j. Find Maximum height rise, horizontal distance traveled and magnitude of velocity just before the ball hits the ground. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution So i got the total...
  23. Kmol6

    Projectile Motion: Calculating Velocity from Cliff Height and Launch Angle

    Homework Statement A projectile is fired at an upward angle of 45 degrees from the top of a 165m Cliff with a speed of 175 m/s. what will be its speed when it strikes the ground below? (Use conservation of energy and neglect air resistance.) Homework Equations E= Ke +Pe 1/2 mv^2 + mgh =...
  24. P

    Projectile motion: find distance a ball would land

    Homework Statement I'm trying to come up with an equation to determine where a ball would land (basically the distance it moves) from a spring loaded projectile launcher set up on a table. I'm looking for "d", and I know the spring constant, compression, mass of the ball, height the ball starts...
  25. UMath1

    Why is the speed of orbiting satellites constant?

    As I understand it, satellites orbiting the Darth are constantly falling but keep missing. Why then is their speed constant? Why do they not tangentially accelerate like spaceships do when using a gravity assist? I understand that the force of gravity is perpendicular to the satellites motion...
  26. S

    Possible to solve for the initial speed of a projectile?

    Is it possible to solve for the initial speed of projectile hitting a target given that we know the direction (vector) that it is released at and the point on a the surface that it is hitting? If so how would you go about finding an equation to solve for this? I realize that this is a...
  27. B

    Warren's Cannonball Launch Velocity?

    Homework Statement Warren weights 70 kg and is shot out of a cannon at 25 degrees above the horizontal. the cannon barrel tip is 1.34m above the ground and the cannon has a mass of 203kg. What is Warren's initial launch velocity?Homework Equations I don't even knowThe Attempt at a Solution I...
  28. L

    Implementing wind into projectile calculation.

    Homework Statement Calculate distance of a rock thrown at certain angle, velocity and wind speed/direction. Homework Equations I'm using this: 2(vi^2)sin(theta)cos(theta)/9.8 to calculate the distance of the throw. How could I implement a wind value and direction into this equation? This is...
  29. Evangeline101

    Projectile Motion of water balloon

    Homework Statement A water balloon is fired at 34.0 m/s from a water cannon, which is aimed at an angle of 18° above the ground. The centre of the cannon's target (which has a radius of 1.0m) is painted on the asphalt 42.0 m away from the water cannon. Will the balloon hit the target? Justify...
  30. S

    Calculating the Angle of a Pendulum Swing into a Peg

    Homework Statement With this problem I have to get the answer: cosθ = r/L * cosα - √(3)/2 * (1 - r/L) which in other words mean I need to find angle θ with arccos[r/L * cosα - √(3)/2 * (1 - r/L)]. Here's the picture: Lcosθ is the vertical length of the string at its lowest point. rcosα is a...
  31. S

    Angle required to hit the target in projectile motion

    Consider the problem of projectile motion where the angle to hit a target ##(x,y)## is asked, once given the initial velocity magnitude ##v_0##. The projectile is fired from the point ##(0,0)##. Here is the final formula for theta, solving the equations of motion...
  32. S

    B Integrating velocity equation problem

    I've already completed the first question, but with number two, it's a different case. Here's my attempt: \frac { d{ v }_{ y } }{ dt } \quad =\quad -g\quad -\quad \beta { v }_{ y }\\ \frac { d{ v }_{ y } }{ -g\quad -\quad \beta { v }_{ y } } \quad =\quad dt\\ \int { \frac { d{ v }_{ y } }{...
  33. B

    Projectile Motion with Relative Motion (w/o Solver)

    Homework Statement Homework Equations vx = 70*cos(α) + 8.333 (30 km/h = 8.333 m/s) vy = 70*sin(α) vx*t = 350 vy*t = 60 -(1/2)*g*t^2 + vy*t + 2.5 = 60 The Attempt at a Solution This problem is conceptually very simple for me, but I can't solve it without using a solver like Wolfram Alpha...
  34. P

    Calculate initial speed of an athlete - projectile motion

    Homework Statement An athlete can cover 3.0 m for a standing long jump. Assuming that this athlete jumps at an angle of 45 degrees to the horizontal. calculate the speed at which the jumper can launch herself from a standing start. Assume g =10 ms^-2 and no air resistance Assume that horizontal...
  35. F

    Solving Projectile Motion Problem: 4.2 m/s

    Homework Statement Jim stands with a ball at the rear of a diving board, 10 m above the surface of a swimming pool. His friend Bob is swimming below, at a horizontal distance of 6 m from the front of the board. Jim thinks it would be funny to roll his ball along the diving board so that it...
  36. Zacattackz

    Projectile Motion, finding required theta of launch

    Homework Statement The objective is to code a working solver, but my question is specifically with the physics aspect. I am to find the θ value necessary to launch a projectile and hit a target. My problem is distinguishing between an overshoot and an undershoot. For example: Both of these...
  37. L

    Can Physics Save the Hospital from Mortar Fire?

    A group of elderly, hospital-hating street toughs fire a mortar at a local children's hospital 960m away. The projectile has a muzzle speed of 100m/s and is directed 53.13 degrees above the horizontal. At the same instant, a contingent of concerned physics enthusiasts, knowing full well that...
  38. B

    Calculating Launcher Mass from Projectile Acceleration

    Homework Statement A projectile launcher fires a projectile horizontally from a platform which rests on a flat, icy, frictionless surface. Just after the projectile is fired and while it is moving through the launcher, the projectile has an accelleration of 25m/s^2. At the same time, the...
  39. W

    Projectile motion -- I could use some help studying example problems please

    Homework Statement I have a test coming up in projectile motion, and I understand very little of it. Like calculating hang time, horizontal range, max height etc. Homework Equations ΔY=vyiΔt+1/2ay(Δt)^2 Quadratic formula There shouldn't be any math past Algebra I The Attempt at a Solution
  40. W

    Help Required for Projectile Motion Equation

    i was reading a golf simulator forum. i am actually interested in writing a code and make graphs to see how trajectory path looks like.For any given time (t) the distance traveled (x component) is x(t) = (Vo cosm)t and the height (y component) at any given time (t) is y(t) = (Vo sinm)) -...
  41. dakota224

    Downward Projectile Motion on an Inclined Plane

    Homework Statement A skateboarder in a death-defying stunt decides to launch herself from a ramp on a hill. The skateboarder leaves the ramp at a height of 1.4 m above the slope, traveling 15 m/s and at an angle of 40° to the horizontal. The slope is inclined at 45° to the horizontal. With what...
  42. Mr Timn

    Finding Velocity and Force of a projectile

    1. So first off, this isn't a homework problem but I figured this would be the best place to post this kind of question. I have an air powered cannon that can shoot potatoes. It is basically a beefed up version of those little potato guns you can buy at FredMyers. You pump up a chamber...
  43. Eclair_de_XII

    How to find the horizontal distance from projectile motion?

    Homework Statement "A projectile is fired horizontally from a gun that is 45.0 m above flat ground, emerging from the gun with a speed of 250 m/s. (a) How long does the projectile remain in the air? (b) At what horizontal distance from the firing point does it strike the ground? (c) What is the...
  44. cnstntcnfsn

    Projectile Motion - Two fired at different times

    Homework Statement Two projectiles are fired, one at t = 0 with velocity v01, making an angle θ1 with x-axis, and the other at t = T > 0 with velocity v02 making an angle θ2 with x-axis. Show that if they are to collide in midair the travel interval T between the two firings must be...
  45. D

    Need help solving a tricky projectile motion problem

    Homework Statement A fountain shoots water from a fountain that is 3.5cm from the ground. The water reaches a maximum of height of 11cm from the ground (or 7.5cm from the height of the fountain). The range of the water is 15cm from the fountain once it hits the ground. Find: a) The time the...
  46. Elena14

    Maximum kinetic energy in projectile motion

    Finding the maximum kinetic energy in a simple parabolic projectile motion requires us to find the maximum velocity. I know that the velocity will be maximum at two points, the point of projection and point of return. So there must be two points where the kinetic energy is maximum. But my...
  47. M

    Block off inclined plane (kinematics + projectile motion?)

    Homework Statement A block of mass m = 2.00 kg is released from rest at h = 0.300 m above the surface of a table, at the top of a θ = 50.0° incline as shown in the figure below. The frictionless incline is fixed on a table of height H = 2.00 m. a. Find a on the incline a=7.51 :) b. Find V(f)...
  48. x2017

    Projectile Motion calculation problem

    Homework Statement Homework Equations D=VΔt Vf=Vi+ayΔt Df=Di+VyΔt+(1/2)ayΔt2 The Attempt at a Solution I solved for d using 1/2ayΔt2 and got 10.30m (Solving for d is a question later on in this assignment and i checked it there and it is incorrect...) Then I used Df=Di+VyΔt+(1/2)ayΔt2 but...
  49. K

    Projectile motion motorcycle question

    Homework Statement A motorcycle daredevil wants to ride up a 50.0m ramp set at a 30.0 θ incline to the ground. It will launch him in the air and he wants to come down so he just misses the last of a number of 1.00 m diameter barrels. If the speed at the instant when he leaves the ramp is 60.0...
  50. K

    Physics projectile motion question

    Homework Statement a gold ball is hit with an initial velocity of 52m/s at an angle of 50 degrees How long is it in the air Homework Equations Sin=opp/hyp Cos=adj/hyp D=vt+1/2at^2 The Attempt at a Solution First I split the vector into its vertical and horizontal components sin50=x/52...
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