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  1. Glossary
  2. /Physics
  3. /Projectile Motion

What is Projectile Motion?

In short

Projectile motion is the motion of an object thrown into the air that is acted on only by gravity. Its path is a parabola.

In simple words

Split the motion into two parts. Horizontally there is no acceleration, so the horizontal velocity stays constant. Vertically the acceleration is ggg downwards. The two parts are independent, and they share only the time of flight. For a launch speed uuu at angle θ\thetaθ, the range is R=u2sin⁡2θgR = \dfrac{u^2 \sin 2\theta}{g}R=gu2sin2θ​, which is greatest at 45∘45^\circ45∘.

Example

A ball is kicked at 20 m/s20\ \text{m/s}20 m/s at 30∘30^\circ30∘ to the ground. Range R=(20 m/s)2sin⁡60∘9.8 m/s2=35 mR = \dfrac{(20\ \text{m/s})^2 \sin 60^\circ}{9.8\ \text{m/s}^2} = 35\ \text{m}R=9.8 m/s2(20 m/s)2sin60∘​=35 m.

Also searched as: projectile, phet projectile motion.

Learn it properly

  • Lessons on this topic
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Related terms

  • Equations of Uniform Acceleration
  • Acceleration Due to Gravity (g)
  • Position-Time Graph

← All glossary terms

Learn it in

  1. Vectors: Adding, Subtracting and ResolvingClass 11 to 12
  2. Motion in a Plane: Velocity, Acceleration and Relative MotionClass 11 to 12
  3. Projectile Motion and Circular MotionClass 11 to 12
All lessons on this topic →

Practise

  1. A light ball is thrown from ground level on a flat beach…Advanced
A lawn sprinkler stands on level ground, 6.0 m from a long, flat vertical wall that is…Advanced
  • A trolley runs along a straight, level floor at a steady 3.0 m/s to the right…Hard
  • A ball is thrown at 10 m/s, at 30° above the horizontal, from the edge of a flat roof 20…Hard
    • All problems on this topic →

    Quick questions

    1. A ball is thrown at 20 m/s, at 60° above the horizontal, over level ground. Ignore air…Advanced
    2. Ball A is thrown from a point O on level ground at 30 m/s, at 53° above the horizontal…Advanced
    3. A stone is thrown from level ground at 16 m/s, at 53° above the horizontal. Ignore air…Hard

    More Physics terms

    1. Acceleration
    2. Adiabatic Process
    3. Amplitude
    4. Angle of Incidence
    5. Angle of Reflection
    6. Archimedes' Principle
    All Physics terms →

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