Deriving Projectile Motion Equations from Initial Conditions

  • Thread starter Thread starter charris316
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    deriving Motion
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on deriving the equations for the range and total time-of-flight of a projectile launched with initial speed v, from a height h, and at an angle Q. The key equations provided are: range = vt - 0.5gt² and time = (vsinQ + √((vsinQ)² + 2gh)) / g. The initial conditions include the horizontal and vertical components of velocity, where Vox = vcosQ and Voy = vsinQ. The first step in the derivation involves expressing height as a function of time and setting it to zero to determine the time-of-flight.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of projectile motion concepts
  • Familiarity with algebraic manipulation
  • Knowledge of trigonometric functions
  • Basic physics principles, particularly Newton's laws
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of projectile motion equations in detail
  • Learn about the effects of air resistance on projectile motion
  • Explore advanced topics in kinematics, such as parametric equations
  • Investigate the application of projectile motion in real-world scenarios, such as sports physics
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics courses, educators teaching projectile motion, and anyone interested in the mathematical modeling of motion in a gravitational field.

charris316
Messages
2
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Derive algebraic expressions for the range and total time-of-flight of a projectile launched with initial speed v, from a height h, and at an angle Q, above the horizontal. We were given the final equations but I am unsure of how to derive them.


Homework Equations


range=vt-.5gt^2, where g is the acceleration due to gravity and t is the time in seconds.

time= (vsinQ+((vsinQ)^2+2gh)^.5)/g


The Attempt at a Solution


Considering the ball, after it has been launched:
Fx=0
Vox=vcosQ
Fy=mg
Voy=vsinQ

?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
That equation for range is wrong.

The first step is to find an the height as a function of time.
Set this to zero to find the time-of-flight.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
27K
Replies
40
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K