How does a javelin move?

ANGULAR PROJECTILE MOTION

Throwing and falling.

Carry out the following simple experiments to understand motion through the air. From a high point drop a ball, time its fall and describe its motion. Throw a ball vertically upwards and describe the motion. Project a ball horizontally from a high point and describe its motion.

Important facts!!
A falling object has only vertical components of velocity. An object thrown vertically upwards only has vertical components of velocity. Objects thrown horizontally at a height above the ground or objects thrown upand-sideways simultaneously have vertical and horizontal components of velocity. The pathway followed by an object moving through the air is called a trajectory.

Falling bodies

Projectile motion

Calculating the vertical and horizontal components of velocity

u = initial velocity
uv

uh Vertical component of u: Horizontal component of u: uv u = sin

uv = u sin uh = cos u uh = u cos

Describe the motion horizontal projectile motion

When a bullet is fired horizontally, the force of the explosion gives it a horizontal velocity. Once it has left the barrel, the force of the explosion has no further effect on the motion of the bullet. If air resistance is ignored, the only force acting on the bullet is the force of gravity.

 The bullet has two components to its velocity horizontal and vertical. The bullet continues with a constant horizontal velocity, until it reaches the ground. The horizontal distance moved is given by x = vixt The vertical motion of the ball is due to the force of gravity downward acceleration of 10m.s-2. The vertical distance fallen is given by x =vit + gt2 , where vi, the vertical initial velocity = 0.

Height (m)

Distance (m)

Projectiles fired at an angle

Notice how the components change/stay the same.

The bullet has two components to its velocity horizontal and vertical. The bullet continues with a constant horizontal velocity, until it reaches the ground. The horizontal distance moved is given by x = uxt

Describe the motion

The vertical motion of the ball is due to the force of gravity downward acceleration of 10m.s-2.

The vertical distance fallen is given by x = vit + gt2 , where vi, the vertical initial velocity > 0
Height in m

Distance in m

Apply your knowledge:

A football is kicked with a speed of 25 m.s-1 at an angle of 30o to the horizontal. Neglecting air resistance determine: (a) The time of flight for the football.

(2.55 s)

(b) The maximum height reached by the (7.97 m) football. (c) The horizontal range of the football. (55.2 m)

A crate of supplies for a scientific expedition to Greenland is being dropped by plane. When the supplies are dropped, the plane is traveling at 40 m.s-1 horizontally at a height of 50 m. Sadly the parachute fails to open and the package falls to the ground at 9.8 m/s2. Find the horizontal distance travelled by the package as it falls given that it hits the ground right at the feet of the scientific party. (127.8 m)

A stone is thrown horizontally from the top of a vertical cliff. Given that the initial velocity of the stone is 20 m.s-1 and that it hits the horizontal ground below the cliff 3 seconds later, calculate:
(a) The horizontal distance travelled by the stone from the foot of the cliff. (60 m) (b) The height of the cliff. (c) (44.1 m)

The velocity of the stone just before it hits the ground. (35.6 m/s at an angle of 55.8o below the horizontal)

EXTENSION QUESTION

A stone is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 29.4 m.s-1 from the edge of a cliff 78.4 m high. The stone falls so that it just misses the edge of the cliff and falls to the ground at the foot of the cliff. Determine the time taken by the stone to reach the ground.
Assume that the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 ms-2. (Ans = 8 s)

What must you be able to do?

Determine the path of a projectile fired horizontally calculate the distance travelled and the velocity at each point in its path. Determine the path of a projectile fired at some other angle calculate the distance travelled and the velocity at each point in its path.