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1.4.2Kinematics

Projectile Motion — AP PHYSICS 1 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 8 parts Lesson 13 of 14 1 quiz

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Lesson summary

1.4.2 Projectile Motion — AP PHYSICS 1 notes: Analyse projectile motion: components, time of flight, maximum height and range.Horizontal motion — constant velocity, zero accelerationVertical motion — constant acceleration g = 10 m s-2 downwardIndependence — each component is anal…

  • Vertical velocity
  • Horizontal velocity
  • Initial velocity
  • Independence — each component is analysed separately and linked by the time
  • Path — parabolic for any launch other than vertical
  • Horizontal — vx0 = v0 cos θ0

Section 1 of 8Features

Features
Horizontal motion
  • Horizontal motion constant velocity, zero acceleration
Vertical motion
  • Vertical motion constant acceleration g = 10 m s-2 downward
Independence
  • Independence each component is analysed separately and linked by the time
Path
  • Path parabolic for any launch other than vertical

Section 2 of 8Launch components

Launch components
Horizontal
  • Horizontal vx0 = v0 cos θ0
Vertical
  • Vertical vy0 = v0 sin θ0
Angle
  • θ0 is measured from the horizontal

Section 3 of 8Key quantities

QuantityMeaningHow to find it
Time of flightTotal time in the airTwice the time to the apex (level ground)
Maximum heightHeight at the apexSet vy = 0
RangeHorizontal displacementR = vx0ttotal

Section 4 of 8Apex conditions

Vertical velocity
  • Vertical velocity zero for an instant at maximum height
Time
  • Time half the total time of flight on level ground
Horizontal velocity
  • Horizontal velocity unchanged

Section 5 of 8Pattern: soccer ball at 12 m s⁻¹, 35°

Time of flight
  • Time of flight t = 2 × 12 sin 35°/10 = 1.38 s
Maximum height
  • Maximum height h = (12 sin 35°)2/(2 × 10) = 2.37 m
Range
  • R = 12 cos 35° × 1.38 = 13.6 m

Section 6 of 8More from the specification

Resultant
  • Vector sum of two or more vectors.
Vector
  • Quantity with magnitude and direction.
Trajectory
  • The path followed by a projectile, a parabola.
Initial velocity
  • Velocity at the start, u.
Final velocity
  • Velocity at the end, v.
Kinematic equations
  • Equations relating displacement, velocity, acceleration and time for constant acceleration.
Kinematic equation
  • Equation for constant-acceleration motion.

Section 7 of 8Key terms

TermMeaning
Projectile motionTwo-dimensional motion with constant horizontal velocity and vertical acceleration g.
Time of flightTotal time the projectile is in the air.
RangeHorizontal distance travelled.
ApexHighest point of the trajectory.

Section 8 of 8Exam technique

Avoid these mistakes
Giving the projectile a horizontal acceleration.
Using v0 instead of the component in a one-direction equation.
Forgetting that the apex is at half the time of flight only for level ground.

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