Name : Danielle F.

Zuniga Topic : Projectile Motion

Year and Section : IV – St. Rose Teacher : Sir Seguido

1. A cannon ball is shot off a 100-m-high cliff. The ball has an initial horizontal velocity (V xo),
but no vertical velocity. It strikes the ground 90.0m from the base of the cliff. What was the
initial velocity (speed when thrown)?
 
Given: Horizontal Vertical
Displacement 90.0 m 100 m
Initial Velocity ? 0 m/s
Final Velocity ? ?
Acceleration 0 9.8 m/s/s
Time ? ?

Solution:

y = 1/2 gt2

(a.) t = (2y/g)(1/2)

= (200 m/9.80 m/s2)(1/2)

t = 4.52 s
 

x = Vxot

(b.) Vxo = x/t

= 90.0m/4.52s

= 19.9 m/s

Page 1 of 21 pages
2. An Australian football is kicked at an angle qo = 37.0o with a velocity of 20.0 m/s. Find (a)
the max height, (b) the time in air before striking the ground, (c) the horizontal distance
traveled, (d) the velocity vector at the max height, and (e) the acceleration vector at
maximum height.

Given:

Horizontal Vertical
Displacement ? ?
Time ? ?
Initial Velocity Vo cos 37.0o Vo sin 37.0o
Average Velocity ? ?
Final Velocity ? ?
Acceleration 0 9.8 m/s/s
Solution:

Vxo = Vo cos 37.0o = (20.0 m/s)(0.799) = 16.0 m/s

Vyo = Vo sin 37.0o  = (20.0 m/s)(0.602) = 12.0 m/s.

(a) The max height is attained where Vy = 0, this occurs when

t = Vyo/g, ergo (12.0 m/s)/(9.80 m/s2)

= 1.22 s.

y = Vyot - 1/2 gt2

   
= (12.0 m/s)(1.22 s) - 1/2(9.80 m/s2)(1.22 s)2
   
= 7.35 m.

(b) To find the time it takes for the ball to return to the ground, we use the following
equation and set y = 0 (for ground level).

y = Vyot - 1/2 gt2

0 = (12.0 m/s)t - 1/2(9.80 m/s2)t2

thus, t = 2(12. m/s)/(9.80 m/s2 )

= 2.45 s Page 2 of 21 pages

(c) The total distance traveled horizontally is found by applying the following equation,
remembering that a = 0, Vxo = 16.0 m/s:
x = Vxot = (16.0 m/s)(2.45 s)

= 39.2 m

(d) At the max height there is no vertical component to the velocity, only horizontal. so

v = Vxo cos 37.0o

= 16.0 m/s.

(e) The acceleration vector is always 9.80 m/s2 downward.

3. Let's say you're on top of a cliff, which drops vertically 150 m to the ocean below. You
throw a ball with an initial speed of 8.40 m/s at an angle of 20 degrees above the horizontal.

(a) How long does it take before it hits the water?

(b) How far is it from the base of the cliff to the point of impact?

Given:
X Info. Y Info.
Initial position xo = 0 yo = +150 m
Final position x=? y=0
vox= +vo cos(q) voy= +vo sin(q)
Initial velocity
= +7.893 m/s   = +2.873 m/s
Acceleration ax = 0 ay = -9.8 m/s2

Page 3 of 21 pages

(a) How long does it take before it hits the water?

Use the y-information to find the time of flight. One method is to do it in two steps, first
calculating the final y-velocity using the equation:

v 2 = v 2 + 2 a (y - yo)
y oy y

This gives v 2 = 2.8732 + 2 (-9.8) (-150) = 2948.3 m2 / s2 .

y

Taking the square root gives: v = +/- 54.30 m/s.

y

Remember that the square root can be positive or negative. In this case it's negative,
because the y-component of the velocity will be directed down when the ball hits the
ground.

Now find the time using:

v =v +a t
y oy y

So, -54.30 = 2.873 - 9.8 t

t = 5.834 seconds.

(b) How far is it from the base of the cliff to the point of impact?

Plug the time we just calculated into the equation:

x - x o = v t + ½ a t2
ox x

x = (7.893) (5.834)

= 46.0 m.

Page 4 of 21 pages
4. Dustin leaps from the edge of a cliff with a velocity of 3.3 m/s horizontally.  She hits the
water 1.2 seconds later.  How far out does she land? What is her speed when she hits?  How
high is the cliff?

Given: 

Horizontal Vertical
Displacement ? ?
Time 1.2 s 1.2 s
Initial Velocity 3.3 m/s 0
Final Velocity 3.3 m/s ?
Acceleration 0 9.8 m/s/s
Overall speed ? ?

Solution:

Vxt = x 

(3.3 m/s)(1.2 s) = 3.96 m.

 Vy = (9.8)(1.2 s)

= 11.76 m/s (vertically) 

3.32 + 11.762 = 12.22 

y = 1/2gt2

= 7.1 m.

Page 5 of 21 pages
5. Brian leaves the edge of a 12m tall cliff with a horizontal velocity of 4.8 m/s.  What time is
he in the air?  How far from the base of the cliff does he land?  What is his velocity upon
impact with the ground in terms of x and y components?

Given: 

Horizontal Vertical
Displacement ? 12 m
Time ? ?
Initial Velocity 4.8 m/s 0
Final Velocity 4.8 m/s ?
Average
? ?
Velocity
Acceleration 0 9.8 m/s/s

Solution:

y = 1/2 gt2

t = √ 2y/g
t = √2*(12m)/(9.8 m/s/s)
t = 1.56 s

Vxt = x

(4.8 m/s)(1.56) = 7.5 m

(x velocity) m/s x + (y velocity) m/s y

x velocity = 4.8 y velocity = (9.8 m/s/s)(1.56s)

= 15.288m/s2

Page 6 of 21 pages
6. A Bullet is fired at an angle 35o above the horizontal at a speed of 720 m/s.  a) Draw a
picture of the initial velocity vector.  b) What is the horizontal velocity?  c) What is the initial
vertical velocity component? d) What time will the bullet be in the air?  e) What distance will
it go in that time?

  Given:

Horizontal Vertical
Displacement ? ?
Time ? ?
Initial Velocity ? ?
Final Velocity ? ?
Accleration 0 9.8 m/s/s

Solution:

cos 35 * 720 = 589.79 m/s

sin 35 * 720 = 412.98 m/s

t=?
412.98 = -412.98 - 9.8t
t = 825.95/9.8
t = 84.28 s
 
(589.79)  84.28

= 49707.5 m

Page 7 of 21 pages
7. Julie jumps off the edge of a cliff and hits the water 1.5 seconds later, about 4.5 m from
the edge of the cliff.  What height was the cliff?  With what speed did she leave the edge?

Given:

Horizontal Vertical
Displacement 4.5 ?
Time 1.5 s 1.5 s 
Initial Velcocity ? 0
Final Velocity ? ?
Acceleration 0 9.8 m/

Solution:

y  = Vyot - 1/2 gt2

since initial vertical velocity is 0, then you can quite easily

plug in the time and g and find out y, the distance from the
top of the cliff to the ground. 

= (4.5 m)/(1.5 s)

= 3 m/s.

8. Leo wants to jump into a swimming pool from a diving board that is 21 m tall.  There are
poles that stick out 3.4 m from the base of the pool.  What time will he be in the air?  What
must his speed be in order to clear the poles?

Given:

Horizontal Vertical
Displacement 3.4 m 21 m
Time ? ?
Initial Velocity ? 0
Final Velocity ? ?
Acceleration 0 9.8 m/s/s
Page 8 of 21 pages

Solution:
y  = Vyot - 1/2 gt2

21 = 1/2 (9.8) t2 

t=2.07s.                                                                                                       

X = Vt. 

3.4 = 2.07v

V = 1.64 m/s

9. Ben leaves the ground at a speed of 27.4 m/s at an angle above the horizontal of 57 o. a)
What is the horizontal velocity?  b) What is the initial vertical velocity component? c) What
time will he be in the air?  d) What distance will it go in that time?  e) What is the maximum
distance you could make Ben go with that speed?

Given: 

Horizontal Vertical
Displacement ? ?
Time ? ?
Inital velocity ? ?
Final Velocity ? ?
Accleration 0  9.8 m/s/s

a) The cosine of 57 degrees will be equal to the horizontal velocity divided by the
hypotenuse (27.4) 

= cos57o x 27.4

= 14.9 m/s

Page 9 of 21 pages

c)  Same process for this as in b.  But this time, since you're finding the side opposite to the
angle, you use sin, not cos.
= sin57o x 27.4

= 22.9 m/s

d)  Since we know the vertical velocity, we can now discover the total time. 

Vy = Vyo - gt
-46 = -gt
And since g is 9.8, that transforms into
46/9.8 = t
t = 4.7 s

e)  = 4.7 x 14.9

= 70 m.

f)  y = 0

y  = Vyot - 1/2 gt2 

0 = Vyot - 1/2 gt2

t= (2vyo)/g. 

x =  Vxt. 

x = (v02 sin 2q)/g.

= 76.6 m.
 

Page 10 of 21 pages

10. A projectile leaves the ground with a speed of 34 m/s at an angle of 37 o above the
horizontal.  a) What is the initial velocity in vector component notation?  b) What time is the
projectile in the air? c) What is its range? d) What is its speed at the highest point? e) What is
 the velocity of the projectile in vector component notation when it is on the way up at
elevation 10 m? f) Speed at elevation 10 m?

Given:

Horizontal Vertical
Displacement ? ?
Time ? ?
Initial Velocity ? ?
Final Velocity ? ?
Accleration 0 9.8 m/s/s

Solution:

a). = cos37o x 34 (for the horizontal)

= sin37o x 34 (for the vertical)

b).  -41 m/s = 9.8t. 

t = 4.1s

c). = 4.1 x 27.1

= 113 meters.

d).  at the highest point, the vertical velocity has to be 0.  So all you have is horizontal
velocity, which doesn't change one bit.

= 27.1 m/s

Page 11 of 21 pages

e).  y  = Vyot - 1/2 gt2

Vy = Vyo - gt 
Vy = 27.1m/s – (9.8m/s2)(4.1s)

= -13.08m/s

11) A bullet has a speed of 350 m/sec as it leaves a rifle. If it is fired horizontally from a cliff 6.4
m above a lake, how far does the bullet travel before striking the water?

Given:
v o
x(t) = (350) t x

y(t) = (1/2)(9.8) t2 6.4 m

a
vx = 350 m/s

vy(t) = 9.8 t y

x(t=0) = xo = 0 ; y(t=0) = yo = 0

vx(t=0) = vox = 350 m/s; vy(t=0) = voy = 0

Since the only force acting is gravity (downward = + y direction),

we have: ax = 0; ay = + g = + 9.8 m/sec2.

The general solutions for the constant acceleration problem in two dimensions are:

x(t) = (1/2) ax t2 + vox t + xo y(t) = (1/2) ay t2 + voy t + yo

Page 12 of 21 pages

vx(t) = ax t + vox vy(t) = ay t + voy

Let t' be the time when the bullet hits the lake.
 We then know that: y(t') = + 6.4 m.

Thus:

y(t') = + 6.4 = + 4.9 t'2  t' = 1.143 sec.

The horizontal (x) position of the bullet at this time is then:

x(t') = (350)(1.143) = 400 m.

12) A player kicks a football at an angle of 37o with the horizontal and with an initial speed of
48 ft/sec. A second player standing at a distance of 100 ft from the first in the direction of the
kick starts running to meet the ball at the instant it is kicked. How fast must he run in order to
catch the ball before it hits the ground?

Given:
y
x(t) = (48)(4/5) t a

y(t) = - (1/2)(32) t2 + (48)(3/5) t

v o 37
vy(t) = - 32 t + (48)(3/5) x

Solution: We have a projectile motion problem (as far as

the football is concerned). Hence we have drawn a figure,
chosen a CS, and write down the initial conditions (initial
position & velocity) of the football (at t=0).

x0 = 0; y0 = 0; v0x = v0 cos 37; v0y = v0 sin 37

Page 1 of 21 pages

The acceleration is: ax = 0; ay = - 32 ft/sec2.

The general equations of motion for constant acceleration in 2-dimensions are:

x(t) = (1/2) ax t2 + vox t + xo y(t) = (1/2) ay t2 + vox t + yo

vx(t) = ax t + vox vy(t) = ay t + voy

We can now answer any question regarding the motion of the football. In particular, we are
interested in when it hits the ground (call this t'). We have:

y(t') = 0 = - 16 t'2 + (48)(3/5) t'  t' = 0, or t' = 1.8 sec.

Hence the ball will land at x(t') = x(1.8s) = (48)(4/5)(1.8) = 69 ft from the origin.

We can now consider the 2nd player. His initial position (t=0) is 100 ft from the origin, and he
must reach a point 69 ft from the origin in 1.8 sec if he is to catch the ball. Thus from the
definition of average velocity,

vave = (x2 - x1)/(t2 - t1) = (69 - 100)/(1.8) = - 17 ft/sec.

The negative sign indicates that he must run toward the origin (negative x direction).

Page 14 of 21 pages

13) A projectile shot at an angle of 60 o above the horizontal strikes a building 80 ft away at a
point 48 ft above the point of projection. (a) Find the initial velocity, (b) Find the magnitude &
direction of the velocity when it strikes the building.
 y
a
Solution: The wording identifies the problem as a projectile
motion problem. We draw a figure, choose a CS, and write v o
down the initial conditions & acceleration in the problem. 60
x

As before, since this is a 2-dimensional problem, initial

position, initial velocity, and acceleration are specified by
two numbers:

xo = 0 vox = vo cos 60 = (.5) vo ax = 0 .

yo = 0 voy = vo sin 60 = (.866) vo ay = - 32 ft/s2 .

vo = ?

x(t) = (.5) vo t y(t) = - (1/2)(32) t2 + (.866)vo t vy(t) = - 32 t + (.866)vo .

Since vo is not given in the problem, some other piece of information must be given. We read
that the

projectile: "strikes a building 80 ft away at a point 48 ft Page 15 of 21 pages

above the point of projection". Drawing a figure, we let
the instant when the projectile strikes the building be: t'. y
Then we have:
48 ft
v o

x(t') = 80 = (.5) vo t' x

80 ft

y(t') = 48 = -(1/2)(32)t'2 + (.866)vo t' .

Hence we have 2 equations in 2 unknowns and can solve for both t' and vo. Solving we find:

t' = 2.38 seconds

vo = 67.3 ft/sec.

Since we now know vo, then our specific equations of motion are complete, and we can
calculate any other quantity associate with the motion. We are specifically asked for the
velocity when it strikes the building (at time t = 2.38 sec.).

Thus:

vx = vox = (.5)(67.3) = 33.6 ft/sec

vy(t=2.38s) = - 32(2.38) + (.866)(67.3) = - 17.9 ft/sec .

Page 16 of 21 pages

33.6 vx
17.9

We then draw the velocity vector from its

 v
components calculated above. The magnitude & vy
direction (angle) can then be determined:
 √(v x )2+( v y )2 = √(33.6 )2+(−17 .9 )2
v=

= 38.1 ft/sec.

tan  = (17.9)/(33.6)

= 28o (below hor. as shown)

14) A basketball player releases the ball 7 ft above the floor when he is 30 ft from the basket.
The ball goes through the rim of the basket (which is 10 ft above the floor) 1.5 seconds after
release. Find the initial velocity, and the maximum height above the floor reached by the ball.

y v o
Solution: The setup for a projectile motion problem is: (1) 
a
figure drawn; (2) CS chosen; (3) initial conditions
determined; (4) acceleration identified. (Note we have 7 ft
selected a CS with origin (y=0) on floor.) The initial x
conditions are:
Page 17 of 21 pages

xo = 0 ; vox = vo cos  ; yo = 7 ft ; voy = vo sin  .

The acceleration in the problem is: ax = 0 ay = - 32 ft/s2 .

x(t) = vo cos  t ; y(t) = - (1/2)(32) t2 + (vo sin  ) t + 7 ; vy(t) = - 32 t + vo sin  .

At t = 1.5 seconds we have: x(1.5s) = 30 = vox (1.5) y(1.5s) = 10 = - 16(1.5)2 + voy(1.5) + 7

Thus: vox = vo cos  = 20 ft/sec; voy = vo sin  = 26 ft/sec.

The magnitude & direction of the initial velocity is then:

vo = √(20 )2+(26 )2 = 32.8 ft/sec; tan  = (26)/(20)  = 52.4o

(That is, 52.4o above the horizontal).

The maximum height above the floor occurs at a time t' when vy(t') = 0. Hence:

vy(t') = 0 = - 32 t' + 26  t' = .866 sec.

Then y(0.866sec) = - 16 (.866)2 + (26)(.866) + 7 = 17.52 ft.

Page 18 of 21 pages

15) You wish to fire an anti-aircraft shell to intercept an enemy plane flying towards you at 600
mph and an altitude of 42,000 ft. If the plane is initially 20 miles away, and your artillery piece
has a muzzle velocity of 2000 ft/sec, how long do you have to adjust the piece to an angle of
60o and fire?
 y
a
Solution: We have a projectile motion problem (as far as
the shell is concerned). Hence we have drawn a figure, v o

chosen a CS, have written down the initial conditions (initial 60

position & velocity) of the shell (at t=0). x

xo = 0 vox = vo cos 60 = (.5)(2000) = 1000 ft/sec ax = 0 .

yo = 0 voy = vo sin 60 = (.866)(2000) = 1800 ft/sec ay = - 32 ft/s2 .

x(t) = (1/2) ax t2 + vox t + xo y(t) = (1/2) ay t2 + vox t + yo

vx(t) = ax t + vox vy(t) = ay t + voy

We insert the known values for acceleration & initial conditions and obtain the specific
equations for the shell:

x(t) = 1000 t ; y(t) = - (1/2)(32) t2 + 1800 t ; vy(t) = - 32 t + 1800

vy(t') = 0 = -32 t' + 1800  t' = 56.3 sec.

Then: ymax = y(t') = -(1/2)(32)(56.3)2 + 1800 (56.3) = 50,625 ft.

Page 19 of 21 pages

We can reach the elevation of the plane. The next question is "When will the shell be at the
plane's elevation (42,000 ft)?

y(t') = 42,000 = - 16 t'2 + 1800 t'

 t'2 - 112.5 t'+ 2625 = 0

We have a quadratic equation to solve. Using the quadratic formula we have:

−b± √ b2−4 a c (112.5) ± √(112.5)2−4(2625)

t' = 2a = 2

This yields the results: t'1 = 33.03 sec; t'2 = 79.47 sec.

At the 1st time the shell will be a distance

x(t'=33.03) = 33,030 ft (6.256 mi) from where it was fired.

At the 2nd time x(t'= 79.47) = 79,470 ft (15.05 mi).

But the plane travelling at 880 ft/sec will cover a distance of 13.245 mi in 79.47 seconds. Hence,
we can't hit the plane with the shell on the way down.

Page 20 of 21 pages
 We illustrate in the figure the various
y
distances involved. xh = 6.256 mi is position
where we expect to hit the plane; xo = 20
mi is initial position; xf = ?? is position of v o
plane when we fire the shell. Since the
plane will travel a distance of (880)(33.03)/ x h x f
xo
(5280) = 5.505 mi while the shell is in the
air, then xf = 6.256 + 5.505 = 11.76 mi away.

Now the question is, "How long do we wait till the plane reaches xf? Taking the difference (20 -
11.76) and dividing by the planes speed, gives us 49.44 seconds. There is one other 'minor'
question we should ask ourselves. Where will the plane drop its bomb? If it will release its
bomb at a distance greater than 11.76 miles, A falling bomb will have equations of motion
given by: (using CS with y=0 the ground)

xB(t) = 880 t yB(t) = -(1/2)(32) t2 + 42,000 .

Hence, the time to 'fall" is: yB(t') = 0 = -16 t'2 + 42,000  t' = 51.23 sec.

In this time the bomb travels a horizontal distance

(880)(51.23)/5280 = 8.54 mi.

Page 21 of 21 pages