Projectile Equations with Explanations

Consider a projectile being launched at an initial velocity v₀ in a direction making an angle θ with the horizontal. We assume that air resistance is negligible and the only force acting on the object is the force of gravity with acceleration g = 9.8 m/s². Also an interactive html 5 applet may be used to better understand the projectile equations. Projectile problems with solutions are also included in this site.

Velocity, Acceleration and Displacement of the Projectile

The initial velocity V₀ being a vector quantity, has two components:
V_0x and V_0y given by
V_0x = V₀ cos(θ)
V_0y = V₀ sin(θ)
The acceleration A is a also a vector with two components A_x and A_y given by
A_x = 0 and A_y = - g = - 9.8 m/s²
Along the x axis the acceleration is equal to 0 and therefore the velocity V_x is constant and is given by
V_x = V₀ cos(θ)
Along the y axis, the acceleration is uniform and equal to - g and the velocity at time t is given by
V_y = V₀ sin(θ) - g t
Along the x axis the velocity V_xis constant and therefore the component x of the displacement is given by
x = V₀ cos(θ) t
Along the y axis, the motion is that of a uniform acceleration type and the y component of the displacement is given by
y = V₀ sin(θ) t - (1/2) g t²

Shape of the Trajectory of the Projectile

The shape of the trajectory followed by the projectile is found as follows
Solve the formula $\; x = V_0 cos(\theta) t \;$ for $t$ to obtain $$t = \dfrac{x}{V_0 cos(\theta)}$$
Substitute $t$ by $\dfrac{x}{V_0 cos(\theta)}$ in the above expression of y to obtain
$$y = \dfrac{V_0 \sin(\theta) x}{V_0 \cos(\theta)} - (1/2) g \left( \dfrac{x}{V_0 \cos(\theta)} \right)^2$$
Simplify
$$y = - \dfrac{g \; x^2}{2( V_0 \cos(\theta))^2} + x \tan(\theta)$$
The above equation is the path of projectile which is a parabola of the form
$y = A x^2 + B x$
where $A = - \dfrac{g}{2( V_0 \cos(\theta))^2}$ and $B = \tan(\theta)$

Time of Flight of the Projectile

The time of flight is the time taken for the projectile to go from point A to point C (see figure above).
It is calculated by setting y = 0 (y = 0 at point C) and solve for t
y = V₀ sin(θ) t - (1/2) g t² = 0
Factor t out in the above equation
t(V₀ sin(θ) - (1/2) g t) = 0
Two solutions:
t = 0 (correspond to point A)
and
t = 2 V₀ sin(θ) / g (correspond to point C)
Hence the time of flight = 2 V₀ sin(θ) / g

Maximum Height of the Projectile (corresponding to point B in figure above)

At point B in the figure above, the projectile is momentarily horizontal and therefore the vertical component of its velocity is equal to zero. Hence
V_y = V₀ sin(θ) - g t = 0
Solve for t to obtain
t = V₀ sin(θ) / g (Note: this is half the time of flight because of the symmetry of the parabola)
Substitute t by V₀ sin(θ) / g in the expression of y, we obtain the maximum height

$H = \dfrac{V_0 \sin(\theta) V_0 sin(\theta)}{g} - (1/2) \dfrac{}{} g \left( \dfrac{V_0 sin(\theta)}{g} \right)^2 = \dfrac{(V_0 sin(\theta))^2}{2 g}$

Horizontal Range of a Projectile (distance AC in the figure above)

Distance AC which is the horizontal range is equal to x when t is equal to the time of flight 2 V₀ sin(θ) / g obtained above. Hence
range AC = x = V₀ cos(θ) t     at t = time of flight = 2 V₀ sin(θ) / g
Substitute t by 2 V₀ sin(θ) / g and simplify to obtain the range AC
AC $= V_0 cos(\theta) 2 V_0 sin(\theta) / g = V_0^2 sin(2\theta) / g$

More References and Links

1. Projectile Motion Calculator and Solver
2. Projectile Problems with Solutions and Explanations
3. Solutions and Explanations to Projectile Problems
4. Projectile Equations with Explanations
5. Interactive Simulation of Projectile.