Projectile Motion analytical solutions

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 2K views
Sir_Matt
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hi, I'm trying to find the analytical solutions to projectile motion, and not just the approximations.I know the Euler approximation for velocity is the inital velocity - acceleration*time, but what is the more accurate analytical solution for velocity.Thank you.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
That depends on the environment the projectile travels through. The equation you have is perfectly analytical and exact for a projectile that travels only in a constant gravitational field (within the regime of classical mechanics).

To find a solution for a certain environment you will need to start with [itex]F= dp/dt[/itex]. On the left side you have the vector sum of all forces acting upon the projectile. Then all you have to do is solve the differential equation. Unfortunately that is not always possible analytically at which point we'll have to do it numerically.
 
Last edited:
Yes no drag, changing air densities or anything.
Ok so this is the most accurate equation. I will use it then.
Thanks.