PHYSICS: INTRODUCTION TO BASIC CONCEPTS
PROJECTILE MOTION
Projectile motion is a form of motion experienced by an object that is thrown, launched, or otherwise
projected into the air and moves under the influence of gravity. It follows a curved, parabolic trajectory
due to the force of gravity acting on the object. There is no propulsion involved after the initial force is
applied.
Key Characteristics of Projectile Motion:
Two-Dimensional Motion:
Projectile motion occurs in both the horizontal and vertical directions simultaneously.
Horizontal Motion:
The horizontal velocity of the object remains constant throughout the motion, as there are no horizontal
forces acting on it (ignoring air resistance).
Vertical Motion:
The vertical motion is influenced by the force of gravity, causing the object to accelerate downward at
g=9.8m/s2.
Independence of Motions:
The horizontal and vertical motions are independent of each other, meaning the horizontal velocity
doesn’t affect the vertical velocity.
Equations of Projectile Motion:
Assuming that air resistance is neglected, the following equations are used for projectile motion. We will
break it down into horizontal and vertical components.
Horizontal Motion:
Where:
v0 is the initial velocity.
θ is the angle of projection.
t is the time.
Vertical Motion:
Where:
g=9.8 m/s2 is the acceleration due to gravity.
Time of Flight (Total Time in the Air):
The time of flight depends on the initial velocity and the angle of projection. For a projectile launched
and landing at the same height:
