Start

studying Search for a subject My account Upgrade

IB Physics HL Revision Notes Space, Time & Motion Kinematics Projectile Motion

Projectile Motion (HL IB Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

Physics) First exams 2025

Learn more | Not your syllabus?

Revision Note

Download PDF Test yourself Flashcards

Space, Time & Mot…

Author Last updated Kinematics

Ashika 4 October 2024

Distance &

Projectile Motion Displacement

What is a projectile?

A projectile is a particle moving freely (non-powered), under gravity, Speed & Velocity
in a two-dimensional plane
Examples of projectile motion include throwing a ball, jumping o! a
Acceleration
diving board and hitting a baseball with a baseball bat
In these examples, it is assumed that:
Resistance from the air or liquid (known as fluid resistance) the
Kinematic Equations
object is travelling through is negligible
Acceleration due to free-fall, g is constant as the object is
moving close to the surface of the Earth Motion Graphs

Projectile Motion

Fluid Resistance
THISSKETCHCOULD
BEUSEDTOMODEL
AFOOTBALLBEING
KICKED

Terminal Speed
THISSKETCHCOULD
MODELANANGRY
BIRDBEINGPROJECTED
FROMTHETOPOFA
BUILDINGATAPIGON
THEGROUND
Forces & Mom…

Examples of objects in a projectile motion trajectory

Work, Energy …
An object is sent into a projectile motion trajectory with a resultant
velocity, u at an angle, θ to the horizontal
Examples of this include a ball thrown from a height and a
cannonball launched from a cannon Rigid Body Me…

Galilean & Spe…

The Particulate Nat…

Wave Behaviour

An object in a projectile motion trajectory has a resultant velocity at a

Fields
given angle to the horizontal ground

Some key terms to know, and how to calculate them, are:

Time of flight (total time): how long the projectile is in the air. Nuclear & Quantu…
For typical projectile motion, the time to the maximum
height is half of the total time
Maximum height attained: the height at which the projectile is Tools
momentarily at rest
This is when the vertical velocity component = 0
When the projectile is released and lands on the ground the
projectile is at its maximum height when half of its total time
has elapsed
Range: the horizontal distance travelled by the projectile

An object in projectile motion will have a vertical velocity of zero at

maximum height when half the time has elapsed

Horizontal and Vertical Components

The trajectory of an object undergoing projectile motion consists of

a vertical component and a horizontal component
These quantities are independent of each other
Displacement, velocity and acceleration are all vector
quantities that are di!erent in both components
They need to be evaluated separately using the SUVAT
Equations

Horizontal Component Vertical Component

Maximum range at
the end of the
motion when the
total time has
Maximum height is at
elapsed
the top of the motion
Displacement Half the range at when half the time has
the maximum elapsed
height when half
the time has
elapsed

Zero at maximum
Velocity Constant
height
Acceleration of free
fall, g = 9.8 ms−2

Positive when an
Zero (because velocity object is falling
Acceleration
remains constant) towards Earth
Negative when an
object is moving
away from Earth

Acceleration and horizontal velocity are always constant whilst

vertical velocity changes

The resultant velocity of an object in projectile motion can be split

into its horizontal and vertical vector components using
trigonometry where:
Vertical component = opposite side of the projectile triangle
opposite = sinθ × hyp = u sinθ
Horizontal component = adjacent side of the projectile triangle
adjacent = cosθ × hyp = u cosθ

RESULTANT
SE

VELOCITY,u |OPPOSITE
NU
TE
PO
HY

ANGLEOF
PROJECTION

ADJACENT 250m

OPPOSITE=sinO×HYPOTENUSE

VERTICALVELOCITY=sinO×RESULTANTVELOCITY

Vy=sinOxu

ADJACENT=cosO×HYPOTENUSE

HORIZONTALVELOCITY=cosO×RESULTANTVELOCITY

Ux=Uy=cosexu

The resultant velocity at an angle to the horizontal can be resolved

using trigonometry into the horizontal and vertical components

It can be helpful to see how di!erent equations calculate di!erent

quantities using SUVAT equations
Examples of obtaining the equations for total time, maximum height
and range are shown below

MAX.
HEIGHT,
H
using

ucose

RANGE,R

TIMEOFFLIGHT

u=usingv=0d=-gt=?
INITIALSPEED,U=using
ACCELERATION,a=9.81ms-2 THEEQUATIONTHATRELATESTHESE
QUANTITIESIS
DISPLACEMENT=0
v=u+at

O=usin-gt IFTHETIMETOMAXIMUM
HEIGHTISt,
t=Usine THENTHETIMEOF
g
FLIGHTIS2t
2t=Zus ine
g

MAXIMUMHEIGHTATTAINED

u=usin@v=0d=-gH=?
THEEQUATIONTHATRELATESTHESE
QUANTITIESIS

v2=u2+2as

O=(usine)?-2gH
2gH=(usine)?
sine?
H=(u2g

RANGE(R)

u=ucose+=Zusine a=0R=?
THEEQUATIONTHATRELATESTHESE
INITIALSPEED,U=ucosO
QUANTITIESIS
ACCELERATION,a=0
DISPLACEMENT=R DISTANCE=SPEED×TIME

R=(ucost)t

2u?sinecost USINGTHETRIG
R= IDENTITY:
g
2sinecost=sin20
R=UPsin20

Examples of using SUVAT equations to determine the time of flight,

maximum height and range of a projectile

Solving problems with projectiles

You may be required to calculate the missing quantities from the

following projectile motion scenarios:
Vertical projection above the horizontal
Vertical projection below the horizontal
Horizontal projection
Projection at an angle, the most common scenario

Worked example
A stone is dropped from the top of a cli! 50.0 m high at an angle of
25.0° below the horizontal. The stone has an initial speed of 30.0 ms−1
and follows a curved trajectory. The stone hits the ground at a horizontal
distance D from the base of the cli! with a vertical velocity of 33.8 ms−1 .

Calculate the distance D.

Answer:

Step 1: Understand the information given in the question

The final vertical velocity of the stone, v = 33.8 ms−1

The horizontal velocity will remain constant throughout the motion
The question wants us to calculate the range of the stone
The vertical acceleration is +g ms−2

Step 2: Resolve velocity into the vertical and horizontal components

Draw a triangle on the diagram to show the vertical and horizontal

velocity components

Calculate the initial vertical component of velocity, uv using

trigonometry:

uv = opposite side
uv = sinθ × hypotenuse side
uv = sin(25) × 30 = 12.68 ms−1
Calculate the initial horizontal component of velocity, uH using
trigonometry:
uH = adjacent side
uH = cosθ × hypotenuse side
uH = cos(25) × 30 = 27.19 ms−1

Step 3: Consider the equations of motion in the vertical and horizontal

directions

Vertical Motion Horizontal Motion

27.19 ms−1
u 12.68 ms−1

27.19 ms−1
v 33.8 ms−1

a +9.81 ms−2 0 ms−2

t
s 50 m Dm?

Step 4: Calculate the time of flight from the vertical motion

v = u + at

33.8 = 12.68 + 9.81t

33.8 - 12.68 = 9.81t

t = 2.15 s

Step 5: Calculate the range of the stone, D using the elapsed time and
horizontal motion

s = ut

D = 27.19 × 2.15

D = 58.46 m = 58 m (2 s.f.)

Worked example
A ball is thrown from a point P with an initial velocity u of 12 m s-1 at 50° to
the horizontal.

What is the value of the maximum height at Q? (ignoring air resistance)

Answer:

Step 1: Consider the situation

In this question, vertical motion only needs to be considered to find

the vertical height

Step 2: List the known quantities

u = 12sin(50) ms−1
v = 0 ms−1
a = −9.81 ms−2
s=?

Step 3: State the correct kinematic equation

Step 4: Rearrange the equation to make height, s the subject

Step 5: Substitute in the known quantities and calculate maximum

height, s

Worked example
A motorcycle stunt-rider moving horizontally takes o! from a point 1.25
m above the ground, landing 10 m away as shown.

What was the speed at take-o!? (ignoring air resistance)

Unlock this Examiner Tip with premium

Upgrade to unlock

You've read 1 of your 10 free revision notes

Get unlimited access

Downloadable PDFs Unlimited Revision Notes

Exam Questions Past Papers Model Answers

Videos (Maths and Science)

Join the 100,000+ Students that Save My

Exams
the (exam) results speak for themselves:

I would just like to say a This website is soooo Incredible! SO worth my Absolutely brilliant, both
massive thank you for useful and I can’t ever money , the revision my girls used it for A levels
putting together such a thank you enough for notes have everything I and GCSE. It's saves on
brilliant, easy to use organising questions by need to know and are so paper copies, also
website. I really think topic like this. easy to understand. I beneficial exam questions
using this site helped Furthermore, the name of actually enjoy revising! ranked from easy to hard.
me secure my top the website could not have It makes me feel a lot more It's removed a lot of
grades in science and been more appropriate as confident for my GCSEs in stress from the exams.
maths. You really did it literally did SAVE MY a few months.
save my exams! Thank EXAMS!
you.

Beth Fathima Kate Sameera

IGSCE Student A Level Student GCSE Student Parent

Upgrade for full access

Test yourself Flashcards Next topic

Did this page help you? Yes No

Author: Ashika
Expertise: Physics Project Lead

Ashika graduated with a first-class Physics degree from Manchester University and, having worked as a
software engineer, focused on Physics education, creating engaging content to help students across all
levels. Now an experienced GCSE and A Level Physics and Maths tutor, Ashika helps to grow and improve
our Physics resources.

Download notes on Projectile Motion

Resources Members Company Subjects

Learning Hub Launchpad About us Biology

Help and Support Account Content Quality Chemistry

Scholarship Log out Jobs Physics

Join Terms Maths

Archive Privacy Geography

Past Papers English Literature

Solution Banks Psychology

All Subjects

Missing a Subject or Exam Board? Tell us

© Copyright 2015−2024 Save My Exams Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

IBO was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, the resources created by Save My Exams.