InVentive Classes CLASS XI

CBSE + JEE / NEET / FOUNDATION Motion In A Plane PHYSICS BATCH

PROJECTILE MOTION
Projectile motion is a form of motion in which an
object or particle is thrown with some initial velocity
near the earths surface and it moves along a curved
path under the action of gravity alone.
4) The force of gravity continuously affects the vertical
component, so the vertical motion is a uniformly accelerated
motion.

Path followed by a projectile is called Trajectory. IMPORTANT EQUATION OF PROJECTILE EQUATIONS

PICTORIAL EXAMPLES PROJECTILE MOTION

Time of flight
Total time during which the object remain in air.
The projectile lands back at the same height, so the
displacement is zero.
2
Sy = uyt + 1/2ayt
2
0 = usinT 1/2gT => usin = 1/2gT

T=

Important point: The time of flight is independent of the horizontal
A tennis ball or a basketball in a flight component of velocity. The faster a projectile is thrown up, the
A bullet fired from a rifle. longer it will stay in the air.

Assumptions of Projectile motion Maximum Height

2 2
For motion in vertical direction = v y = uy + 2aySy
2
There is no friction due to air. 0 = (usin) 2gHmax
The effect due to the curvature of earth is negligible.
The effect due to the rotation of earth is negligible. Hmax =

The entire trajectory is near the surface of the
Earth. Horizontal Range: Horizontal distance covered by the
For all points of the trajectory, the acceleration due projectile during its time of flight.
-2
to gravity g (9.8 ms ) is constant in magnitude and For motion in horizontal direction:
direction (toward the Earth). 2
Sx = uxt + 1/2axt
Acceleration in horizontal is zero
Principle of Physical Independence of Motions R = (ucos)T
1) The motion of a projectile is a two-dimensional motion.
()
So, it can be discussed in two parts. R= =
Horizontal motion and vertical motion. These two
motions take place independent of each other. This is Velocity at any time t, when makes an angle with the
called the principle of physical independence of motions. horizontal direction.
V = +
2) The velocity of the projectile can be resolved into two
mutually perpendicular components: the horizontal Direction: tan =

component and the vertical component.

3) Acceleration changes velocity. If acceleration in a

particular direction is zero then velocity in that direction
remains the same. Thus, in projectile motion, the horizontal
component of velocity remains unchanged throughout the
flight. The horizontal motion is a uniform motion.

InVentive Classes
An Educational Institute for CBSE (VIII-XII) , JEE (Engineering) /NEET (Medical)/ NTSE/ OLYMPIADS
 InVentive Classes CLASS XI
CBSE + JEE / NEET / FOUNDATION Motion In A Plane PHYSICS BATCH

PROJECTILE GIVEN HORIZONTAL PROJECTION fixed (distance travel per unit time here angle is 450) and neglect air
resistance.
NCERT [Answer : v = 20 ms-1]

6. (a) Show that for a projectile the angle between the velocity and the
x-axis as a function of time is given by

(b) Shows that the projection angle 0 for a

projectile launched from the origin is given
by where the symbols have their usual
meaning.

7. The ceiling of a long hall is 25 m high. What is the maximum

horizontal distance that a ball thrown with a speed of 40 m s-1 can go
without hitting the ceiling of the hall ?
NCERT [Answer : R= 150.5 m]

8. A cricketer can throw a ball to a maximum horizontal distance of

Motion along OX direction x = ut or t = x/u 100 m. How much high above the ground can the cricketer throw the
same ball ?
NCERT [Answer : h = 50 m]
Motion along OY direction y =
9. An aircraft is flying at a height of 3500m above the ground. If the
angle subtended at a ground observation point by the air craft
positions 10s is 300 apart while passing over the head, what is the
Time of flight T= speed of aircraft ? Take tan 150 = 0.26795
NCERT [Answer : h = 187.5 m/s]

10. The horizontal range of a projectile fired at an angle of 15 is 50 m.

If it is fired with the same speed at an angle of 45, its range will be
Horizontal range R = u
(a) 60 m (b) 71 m (c) 100 m (d) 141 m
NCERT [Answer : C]

Velocity at any instant 11. A shell is fired at an angle of 60 to the horizontal direction with a
velocity 392m/s. Find the time of flight, horizontal range and maximum
+ = + height.
[Answer : T= 69.23 S , R = 13578,H= 5880]

12. find the angle of projection at which horizontal range and

maximum height are equal.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS [Answer : = 1 4]
13. A boy stands at 78.4m from a building and throws a ball which just
1. A hiker stands on the edge of the cliff 490m above the ground and enters a window 39.2m above the ground. Calculate the velocity of
projection of the ball.
throws a stone horizontally with an initial speed of 15 ms-1.
Answer : u = 39.2 m/s]
Neglecting air resistance, find the time taken by the stone to reach
the ground, and the speed with which it hits the ground. (g = 9.8ms-2) 14. A ball is throw at angle with velocity 39.2 m/s and another ball is
[Answer : 10 secs, v = 99.1 ms-1] thrown at angle (90 - ) with the horizontal direction from the same
with the velocity 39.2 m/s. the second ball reaches 50 m higher than
2. Two tall buildings are 200m apart. With what speed must a ball be the first ball. Find their individual height.
thrown horizontally from the window above the ground in one [Answer : H = 14.2m, h = 64.2 m]
building, so it will enter the window 50m above the ground in the
15. From a point on the ground at a distance 15m from the foot of a
other? [Answer : v = 20 ms-1] vertical wall, a ball is thrown at angle of 450 which just clears the top
of the wall and afterward strike the ground at a distance 5m on the
3. A plane flying horizontally at 100m/s at a height of 1000m releases other side.
a bomb from it. Find the velocity with which the bomb hits the target [Answer : H = 3.37 m]
in the ground and distance of the target. 16. A body is projected with a velocity of 40m/s. after 2s it crosses a
[Answer : v = 172 ms-1 , Distance = 1420m] vertical pole of height 20.4m. Find the angle of projection and
horizontal range of projectile. (g = 9.8 ms-2)
4. A body is thrown horizontally from the top of the tower and strikes [Answer : R = 141.4 m]
the ground in two seconds while make 45O with the horizontal. Find
17. A hunter aims his gun and fires a bullet directly at monkey in a
the height of the tower and the speed with which body in projected. tree. At the instant the bullet leaves the barrel of the gun, the monkey
-1
[Answer : v = 19.6 ms , Height = 19.6m] drops. Will the bullet hit the monkey?

5. A bullet is fired at an angle of 300 with the horizontal hits the

ground 3 km away. By adjusting its angle of projection, can one
hope to hit a target 5 km away? Assume the muzzle speed to be

InVentive Classes
An Educational Institute for CBSE (VIII-XII) , JEE (Engineering) /NEET (Medical)/ NTSE/ OLYMPIADS