☰ Chapter 3: Projectile Motion

Objectives:

Use equations of motion for projectiles
Determine the optimum release conditions for maximum distance

Projectile Motion

A Projectile is any body that has been set on its path by some force and continues in motion by its own inertia. (Gravity has a major effect on motion).

Examples of Projectiles include: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4

Horizontal and vertical components are independent

Equations of motion for projectiles (Download video)

Characteristics of projectiles

Demonstration on what happens as initial conditions are altered

What happens to horizontal displacement as velocity is increased?
What happens to the optimal initial angle for distance when release height is increased?

A shot put is released with a velocity of \(14 {m \over s}\) at an angle of \(42^o\). What are the vertical and horizontal components of velocity? (Article example)

A baseball is thrown with a horizontal velocity of \(47.0 {m \over s}\) and a vertical velocity of \(4.1 {m \over s}\). What is the resultant velocity (magnitude and direction)?

Things get more complex when takeoff and landing heights are different

\( { -v_y- \sqrt {v_y^2-2gY_0}} \over {g}\)
Shot Put Example