Mathematics Ext 1 Higher School Certificate Examinations by Topics compiled by projectmaths.com.

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Apps of Calculus to the Physical World – Projectile Motion

14 14 The take-off point O on a ski jump is located Solution

a at the top of a downslope. The angle between


the downslope and the horizontal is . A skier
4
takes off from O with velocity V ms-1 at an

angle  to the horizontal, where 0   < .
2
The skier lands on the downslope at some
point P, a distance D metres from O.
The flight path of the skier is given by
1
x = Vt cos , y =  gt2 + Vt sin ,
2
(Do NOT prove this.) where t is the time in seconds after take-off.
(i) Show that the Cartesian equation of the flight path of the skier is given by 2
gx 2
y = x tan  – sec2 .
2V 2
V2
(ii) Show that D = 2 2 cos  (cos  + sin ). 3
g
dD V2
(iii) Show that =2 2 (cos 2 – sin 2). 2
d g
(iv) Show that D has a maximum value and find the value of  for which this 3
occurs.

13 13 Points A and B are Solution

c located d metres apart

on a horizontal plane.
A projectile is fired
from A towards B with
initial velocity
u ms–1 at angle  to
the horizontal.
At the same time, another projectile is fired from B towards A with initial velocity
w ms–1 and angel  to the horizontal, as shown in the diagram.
The projectiles collide when they both reach their maximum height.
The equations of motion of a projectile fired from the origin with initial velocity
V ms–1 at angle  to the horizontal are
g 2
x = Vt cos  and y = Vt sin  – t . (Do NOT prove this.)
2
(i) How long does the projectile fired from A take to reach its maximum 2
height?
(ii) Show that u sin  = w sin  1
uw
(iii) Show that d = sin ( + ). 2
g

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12 14 A firework is fired from O, on level ground, Solution

b with velocity 70 metres per second at an

inclination . The equations of motion of the
firework are x = 70t cos  and
y = 70t sin – 4.9t2 (Do NOT prove this). The
firework explodes when it reaches its
maximum height.
(i) Show that the firework explodes at a 2
height of 250 sin2 metres.
(ii) Show that the firework explodes at a 1
horizontal distance of
250 sin2 metres from O.
(iii) For best viewing, the firework must explode at a horizontal distance 3
between 125 m and 180 m from O, and at least 150 m above the ground.
For what values of  will this occur?

11 6b The diagram shows the trajectory of a Solution

ball thrown horizontally, at speed v

ms-1, from the top of a tower h metres
above ground level. The ball strikes
the ground at an angle of 45o, d
metres from the base of the tower, as
shown in the diagram.

The equations describing the trajectory of the ball are x = vt

1
and y = h – gt2, (Do NOT prove this.) where g is the acceleration due to gravity,
2
and t is time in seconds.
2h 1
(i) Prove that the ball strikes the ground at time t = seconds.
g
(ii) Hence, or otherwise, show that d = 2h. 2

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10 6b A basketball player throws a ball with an initial velocity v ms-1 at an angle  to the Solution

horizontal. At the time the ball is released is at (0, 0), and the player is aiming for
the point (d, h) as shown on the diagram. The line joining (0, 0) and (d, h) makes

an angle  with the horizontal, where 0 <  <  < .
2

Assume that at any time t seconds after the ball is thrown its centre is at the point
(x, y), where x = vt cos  and y = vt sin  – 5t2.
(You are NOT required to prove these equations.)
(i) If the centre of the ball passes through (d, h) show that 3
5d
v2 = 
cos  sin  cos2  tan

(ii) (1) What happens to v as    . 1

 1
(2) What happens to v as   .
2
(iii) For a fixed value of a, let F() = cos  sin  – cos 2 tan. 2
Show that F ’() = 0 when tan 2 tan  = -1.

(iv) Using part (a) (ii) or otherwise show that f’() = 0 1

 
when  = + .
2 4
  2
(v) Explain why v2 is a minimum when  = + .
2 4

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09 6a Two points, A and B, are on cliff Solution

tops on either side of a deep

valley. Let h and R be the vertical
and horizontal distances between A
and B as shown in the diagram.
The angle of elevation of B from A
h
is θ, so that θ = tan−1   .
R
09 6ai At time t = 0, projectiles are fired simultaneously from A and B. The projectile
from A is aimed at B, and has initial speed U at an angle θ above the horizontal.
The projectile from B is aimed at A and has initial speed V at an angle θ below the
horizontal. The equations for the motion of the projectile from A are
1
x1 = Ut cos  and y1 = Ut sin  – gt2,
2
and the equations for the motion of the projectile from B are
1
x2 = R – Vt cos  and y2 = h – Vt sin  – gt2,
2
(Do NOT prove these equations.)

(i) Let T be the time at which x1 = x2. 1

R
Show that T = .
(U  V ) cos 
(ii) Show that the projectiles collide. 2
(iii) If the projectiles collide on the line x = λR, where 0 < λ < 1, 1
1 
show that V =   1) U.
 

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08 7 A projectile is fired from O with Solution

velocity V at an angle of inclination 

across level ground. The projectile
passes through the points L and M,
which are both h metres above the
ground, at times t1 and t2 respectively.
The projectile returns to the ground at
N. The equations of motion of the
projectile are
x = Vtcos and
1 2
y = Vtsin – gt .
2
(Do NOT prove this.)

(a) Show that t1 + t2 =

2V
sin  AND t1t2 =
2h
 2
g g
h
Let ∠LON =  and ∠LNO =  . It can be shown that tan  = and
Vt1 c os
h
tan  = . (Do NOT prove this.)
Vt2 c os
2
(b) Show that tan  + tan = tan .
gh 1
(c) Show that tan  tan = .
2 2
2V c os 
Let ON = r and LM = w.
(d) Show that r = h(cot  + cot ) and w = h(cot  – cot ). 2
Let the gradient of the parabola at L be tan .
(e) Show that tan  = tan  – tan . 3
w r 2
(f) Show that = .
tan tan

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07 7b A small paintball is fired from the origin with initial velocity 14 metres per second Solution

towards an eight-metre high barrier. The origin is at ground level, 10 metres from
the base of the barrier.
07 7bi
The equations of motion are
x = 14tcos 
y = 14tsin – 4.9t2 8 metres
where  is the angle to the
horizontal at which the
paintball is fired and t is the
time in seconds. (Do NOT
prove these equations of
motion.)
07 7bi (i) Show that the equation of trajectory of the paintball is 2
i  1  m2  2
y = mx –   x , where m = tan  .
 40 
 
(ii) Show that the paintball hits the barrier at height h metres when 2
m = 2 ± 3  0.4h . Hence determine the maximum value of h.
(iii) There is a large hole in the barrier. The bottom of the hole is 2
3.9 metres above the ground and the top of the hole is 5.9 metres above
the ground. The paintball passes through the hole if m is in one of two
intervals. One interval is 2.8 ≤ m ≤ 3.2. Find the other interval.
40m
(iv) Show that, if the paintball passes through the hole, the range is
1  m2 3
metres. Hence find the widths of the two intervals in which the paintball can
land at ground level on the other side of the barrier.

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06 6a Two particles are fired simultaneously from the ground at time t = 0. Particle 1 is Solution


projected from the origin at an angle , 0 <  < , with an initial velocity V.
2
Particle 2 is projected vertically upward from the point A, at a distance a to the
right of the origin, also with an initial velocity of V.
06 6ai It can be shown that while both particles
are in flight, Particle 1 has equations of
motion:
1
x = Vt cos y = Vt sin – gt2,
2
and Particle 2 has equations of motion:
1
x=a y = Vt – gt2,
2
06 6ai Do NOT prove these equations of motion.
i Let L be the distance between the particles at time t
(i) Show that, while both particles are in flight, 2
L2 = 2V2t2(1 – sin) – 2aVtcos + a2.
(ii) An observer notices that the distance between the particles in flight first 3
decreases, then increases. Show that the distance between the particles in
a c os
flight is smallest when t = and that this smallest distance is
2V (1  s in )
1  s in
a .
2
(iii) Show that the smallest distance between the two particles in flight occurs 1
ag c os
while Particle 1 is ascending if V > .
2 s in (1  s in )

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