More Projectile Motion Discussion:

Examples

More Projectile Motion Discussion:

Examples

I hope this doesnt

apply to you!

Solving Projectile Motion Problems

1. Read the problem carefully, & choose the object(s) you
are going to analyze.
2. Sketch a diagram.
3. Choose an origin & a coordinate system.
4. Decide on the time interval; this is the same in both
directions, & includes only the time the object is
moving with constant acceleration g.
5. Solve for the x and y motions separately.
6. List known & unknown quantities. Remember that vx
never changes, & that vy = 0 at the highest point.
7. Plan how you will proceed. Use the appropriate
equations; you may have to combine some of them.

Example 4.4: Non-Symmetric Projectile Motion

A stone is thrown! xi = yi = 0
yf = -45.0 m, vi = 20 m/s, i = 30
a) Time to hit the ground?
b) Speed just before it hits?
c) Distance from the base of the
building where it lands?

Kinematic Equations
vxi = vicosi, vyi = visini
vxf = vxi , xf = vxi t
vyf = vyi - gt
yf = vyi t - ()gt2
(vyf) 2 = (vyi)2 - 2gyf

Example 4.4: Solution

A stone is thrown! xi = yi = 0
yf = -45.0 m, vi = 20 m/s, i = 30
a) Time to hit the ground?
b) Speed just before it hits?
c) Distance from the base of the
building where it lands?
First, calculate
vxi = vi cos(i) = 17.3 m/s
vyi = vi sin(i) = 10.0 m/s
a) Time to hit the ground?
(Time when yf = -45.0 m)
yf = -45m = vyi t - ()gt2
A general quadratic must be solved
using the quadratic equation! This
gives:

t = 4.22 s

Kinematic Equations
vxi = vicosi, vyi = visini
vxf = vxi , xf = vxi t
vyf = vyi - gt
yf = vyi t - ()gt2
(vyf) 2 = (vyi)2 - 2gyf

Example 4.4: Solution

A stone is thrown! xi = yi = 0
yf = -45.0 m, vi = 20 m/s, i = 30
a) Time to hit the ground?
b) Speed just before it hits?
c) Distance from the base of the building
where it lands?
First, calculate
vxi = vi cos(i) = 17.3 m/s
vyi = vi sin(i) = 10.0 m/s
thit = 4.22 s
b) Velocity just before it hits?
vxf = vxi , vyf = vyi gt so vxf = 17.3 m/s
vyf = 10 (9.8)(4.22) = - 31.3 m/s

Speed (vf)2 = (vxf)2 + (vyf)2

vf = 35.8 m/s
Angle: tan(f) = (vyf/vxf) = -(31.3/17.3) = -1.8

f = -60.9

Kinematic Equations
vxi = vicosi, vyi = visini
vxf = vxi , xf = vxi t
vyf = vyi - gt
yf = vyi t - ()gt2
(vyf) 2 = (vyi)2 - 2gyf

Example 4.4: Solution

A stone is thrown! xi = yi = 0
yf = -45.0 m, vi = 20 m/s, i = 30
a) Time to hit the ground?
b) Speed just before it hits?
c) Distance from the base of the
building where it lands?
First, calculate
vxi = vi cos(i) = 17.3 m/s
vyi = vi sin(i) = 10.0 m/s
thit = 4.22 s
vf = 35.8 m/s, f = -60.9
c) Distance from the base of th
building where it lands?
xf = vxi thit = (17.3)(4.22) = 73.0 m

Kinematic Equations
vxi = vicosi, vyi = visini
vxf = vxi , xf = vxi t
vyf = vyi - gt
yf = vyi t - ()gt2
(vyf) 2 = (vyi)2 - 2gyf

Example 4.2: The Long Jump

A long-jumper leaves the ground at an angle i = 20 above the

horizontal at a speed of vi = 8.0 m/s.
a) How far does he jump in the horizontal direction?
(Assume his motion is equivalent to that of a particle.)

b) What is the maximum height reached?

Kinematic Equations
vxi = vicosi, vyi = visini ,vxf = vxi
xf = vxi t, vyf = vyi gt
yf = vyi t - ()gt2
(vyf) 2 = (vyi)2 - 2gyf

The Long Jump: Solutions

A long-jumper leaves the ground at an angle i = 20 above the

horizontal at a speed of vi = 8.0 m/s.
a) How far does he jump in the horizontal direction?
(Assume his motion is equivalent to that of a particle.)

b) What is the maximum height reached?

vxi = vi cos(i) = 7.5 m/s
vyi = vi sin(i) = 4.0 m/s
a) How far does he jump in the
horizontal direction? Range =
R = (2vxivyi/g) = 2(7.5)(4)/(9.8)

R = 7.94 m
Kinematic Equations
vxi = vicosi, vyi = visini ,vxf = vxi
xf = vxi t, vyf = vyi gt
yf = vyi t - ()gt2
(vyf) 2 = (vyi)2 - 2gyf

The Long Jump: Solutions

A long-jumper leaves the ground at an angle i = 20 above the

horizontal at a speed of vi = 8.0 m/s.
a) How far does he jump in the horizontal direction?
(Assume his motion is equivalent to that of a particle.)

b) What is the maximum height reached?

vxi = vi cos(i) = 7.5 m/s
vyi = vi sin(i) = 4.0 m/s

R = 7.94 m
b) What is the maximum height?

h = [(vyi)2/(2g)]

h = 0.72 m
Kinematic Equations
vxi = vicosi, vyi = visini ,vxf = vxi
xf = vxi t, vyf = vyi gt
yf = vyi t - ()gt2
(vyf) 2 = (vyi)2 - 2gyf

Example: Driving Off a Cliff!!

A movie stunt driver on a motorcycle speeds horizontally off a 50.0-m-high
cliff. How fast must the motorcycle leave the cliff top to land on level
ground below, 90.0 m from the base of the cliff where the cameras are?
Kinematic Equations: vxi = vicosi, vyi = visini ,vxf = vxi xf = vxi t
vyf = vyi gt, yf = vyi t - ()gt2, (vyf) 2 = (vyi)2 - 2gyf

vxf = vxi = ? vyf = -gt

xf = vxft, yf = - ()gt2
Time to Bottom:
t = 2y/(-g) = 3.19 s
vx0 = (x/t) = 28.2 m/s

Solutions: Driving Off a Cliff!!

A movie stunt driver on a motorcycle speeds horizontally off a 50.0-m-high
cliff. How fast must the motorcycle leave the cliff top to land on level
ground below, 90.0 m from the base of the cliff where the cameras are?
Kinematic Equations: vxi = vicosi, vyi = visini ,vxf = vxi xf = vxi t
vyf = vyi gt, yf = vyi t - ()gt2, (vyf) 2 = (vyi)2 - 2gyf

vxf = vxi = ? vyf = -gt

xf = vxft, yf = - ()gt2
Time to Bottom:
t = 2y/(-g) = 3.19 s
vx0 = (x/t) = 28.2 m/s

vx = vxi = ?, vyf = -gt

xf = vxit, yf = - ()gt2
Time to the bottom =
time when y = - 50 m
- ()gt2 = - 50 m

t = 3.19 s
At that time xf = 90.0 m
So vxi = (xf/t) = (90/3.19)

vxi = 28.2 m/s

Example: Kicked Football

A football is kicked at an angle 0 = 37.0 with a velocity of

20.0 m/s, as shown. Calculate:
a. The maximum height. b. The time when it hits the ground.
c. The total distance traveled in the x direction.
d. The velocity at the top. e. The acceleration at the top.
0 = 37, v0 = 20 m/s
vx0= v0cos(0) = 16 m/s, vy0= v0sin(0) = 12 m/s

Conceptual Example

vx0

Demonstration!!

Conceptual Example: Wrong Strategy

Shooting the Monkey!!

Video Clips!!

Example: A Punt!

vi = 20 m/s, i = 37
vxi = vicos(i) = 16 m/s, vyi= visin(i) = 12 m/s

Proof that the projectile path is a parabola

xf = vxi t , yf = vyi t ()g t2
Note: The same time t enters both equations!
Eliminate t to get y as a function of x.
Solve the x equation for t: t = xf/vxi

Get: yf = vyi (xf/vxi) ()g (xf/vxi)2

Or: yf = (vyi /vxi)xf - [()g/(vxi)2](xf)2
This is of the form yf = Axf B(xf)2

A parabola in the x-y plane!!

Example : The Stranded Explorers

Problem: An Alaskan rescue plane drops a package of emergency rations

to a stranded party of explorers, as shown in the picture. If the plane is
traveling horizontally at vi = 42.0 m/s at a height h = 106 m above the
ground, where does the package strike the ground relative to the point at
which it is released?
vi = 42 m/s

Problem

Problem Solution
Choose the origin at ground level, under where the projectile is launched, &
up to be the positive y direction. For the projectile:
v0 65.0 m s ,
0 35.0, a y g , y0 115 m, v y 0 v0 sin 0 .
a. The time to reach the ground is found from the free fall equation, with
final height = 0. Choose positive time since the projectile was launched at t = 0.

y y0 v y 0t 12 a y t 2
t

0 y 0 v0 sin 0t 12 gt 2

v0 sin 0 v02 sin 2 0 4 12 g y0

2 g
1
2

9.964 s , 2.3655s 9.96 s

b. The horizontal range is found from the horizontal motion at

constant velocity.

v x v0 cos 0 65.0 m s cos 35.0 53.2 m s .

x v x t v0 cos 0 t 65.0 m s cos 35.0 9.964 s 531m

c. At the instant just before the particle reaches the ground, the
horizontal component of its velocity is the constant
v x v0 cos 0 65.0 m s cos 35.0 53.2 m s .

The vertical component of velocity is found from:

v y v y 0 at v0 sin 0 gt 65.0 m s sin 35.0 9.80 m s 2

9.964 s

60.4 m s

d. The magnitude of the velocity is found from the x and y

components calculated in part c. above.
v

v x2 v 2y

53.2 m s 60.4 m s 80.5 m s

2

e. The direction of the velocity is

tan

vy
vx

so the object is moving

tan 1

60.4
53.2

48.6

48.6 below the horizon .

f. The maximum height above the cliff top reached by the projectile
will occur when the y-velocity is 0, and is found from:
v 2y v y2 0 2a y y y0
ymax

v02 sin 2 0
2g

0 v02 sin 2 0 2 gy max

65.0 m s sin 2 35.0

2

2 9.80 m s

70.9 m