dropped
which object will hit the ground first if released from the
top of the IDS Building?
Projectile Motion
Part 1
In order to answer this question, we must understand
Projectiles launched horizontally projectile motion.
z Any body that is thrown or projected into the air. z The falling rock is only under the influence of gravity.
Therefore, if we know the height of the IDS building, we
can calculate the time in which it takes to fall.
z Projectiles follow a curved path near the earths surface
because of gravitys effect on them.
Remember: d = 1/2gt2 or t = 2d
g
z With any curved path, we can break the motion down
into a vertical component and a horizontal component.
y
x
The rock, the baseball, and the bullet will all land at the
z In the case of a projectile shot horizontally, it will have a same time! (Assuming there is no air resistance)
horizontal velocity vector and a vertical velocity vector.
Will the rock, the bullet and the baseball all land
IDS Center in the same place?
NO!
However, the only force that pulls the ball or bullet to the ground is gravity!
Therefore, we need to look at that component separately.
Therefore, the bullet and the ball will accelerate toward the ground at the
same rate as the dropped rock.
1
How to determine the landing point of a projectile:
Lets look at a similar question:
z Where a projectile lands is determined by the A green ball is dropped from a cliff 20 meters above the ground. At
the same time of release a second ball, red in color, is thrown
horizontal speed or velocity at which the object horizontally off the cliff at a speed of 35 m/s.
is released.
Which ball will land first?
z Ignore the vertical pull of gravity at this time.
20 m 40 m 60 m That answer depends on the amount of time the balls are in the air.
The distance that the ball travels horizontally depends on the time
it is in the air.
To decide where the balls land, we need to determine how z The green ball will land directly under the point at which
long the balls are in the air. it was dropped. It goes straight down.
To do this, we need to use the equation that helps us z But the red ball will land away from the cliff. The distance
determine the amount of time that the balls are actually that the red ball lands away from the cliff is determined
falling. d = 1/2gt2 by looking at only the horizontal component.
44 m
2
How does a projectile launched from the ground
differ from a free falling object? Notice the arch of the ball thrown here:
Vertical speed: t = vf - vi
y = Sin x 50 m/s 9.8 m/s
vi vf
Total time in air = t x 2
Determining the height of the projectile Determining the distance the projectile will travel:
Step 3: Using the time that the projectile takes to Step 4: Using the horizontal velocity component,
reach the top of the path, calculate the height determine how far the projectile will travel.
(distance traveled upward) of the path.
Assume the projectile travels only horizontally forward.
Assume the projectile travels only vertically straight up or down. Use the linear motion equations.
Use the free-falling equation for distance.
3
Lets look at an example:
A football is kicked from the ground to a position
downfield. If the ball is kicked with a speed of 20 m/s at a
45 degree angle, how long will it be in the air? How far
will the ball travel?
m /s
20
45