Projectile Motion Calculator (+Horizontal Distance / Maximum Height)

The projectile motion calculator is an online tool which helps you examine the parabolic projectile motion. It provides different values which is why it’s also known as a horizontal distance calculator, maximum height calculator or kinematic calculator. Keep reading to learn more about this calculator along with other helpful information you need when learning about projectile motion.

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How to use the projectile motion calculator?

This projectile calculator makes your task easier as you don’t have to perform manual calculations with projectile motion equations to find the values for projectile motion. For this calculator, you need to know the 3 required values so you can enter them in the spaces provided. Here are the steps to follow when using this projectile motion calculator:

  • First, enter the value of the Velocity then choose the unit of measurement from the drop-down menu.
  • Then enter the value of the Angle of Launch and choose the unit of measurement from the drop-down menu.
  • Finally, enter the value of the Initial Height then choose the unit of measurement from the drop-down menu.
  • After entering all of these values, the projectile calculator automatically performs the calculation for you. It will generate the values for the Time of Flight, the Distance, and the Maximum Height.

How do you explain projectile motion?

The word “projectile” refers to any object that’s in flight after it gets projected or thrown. The projectile motion refers to the movement of the object. While in a projectile motion, there is only one type of acceleration working. This acceleration occurs in a vertical direction, and it occurs because of gravity or “g.” Therefore, you can apply projectile motion equations separately in y-axis and x-axis. Do this when you need to solve for unknown parameters.

Some examples of objects in projectile motion are a baseball, a football, a cricket ball, and any other object that’s either thrown or projected. Projectile motion has two main parts. The first one is horizontal motion where there’s no acceleration. The second is vertical motion which has constant acceleration because of gravity.

When a particle gets obliquely projected near the surface of the Earth, it moves in the vertical and horizontal directions simultaneously. This motion is also called projectile motion. When calculating projectile motion, you won’t take air resistance into account to make your calculations simpler.

Rather than using the projectile motion equations to find the projectile motion, you can use the projectile motion calculator which is also known as horizontal distance calculator, maximum height calculator or kinematic calculator. These provide you with the values needed without manual computation.

What is projectile motion equation?

When it comes to projectile motion, there are several equations to think about. This is why it’s easier and much more convenient to use the projectile motion calculator. But if you’d like to learn these equations to perform manual calculations, here they are:

  • For the Horizontal Velocity variable, the formula is vx = v * cos(θ)
  • For the Vertical Velocity variable, the formula is vy = v * sin(θ)
  • For the Time of Flight, the formula is t = 2 * vy / g
  • For the Range of the Projectile, the formula is R = 2* vx * vy / g
  • For the Maximum Height, the formula is ymax = vy^2 / (2 * g)

When using these equations, keep these points in mind:

  • The vectors vx, vy, and v all form a right triangle.
  • You can express the horizontal distance traveled x = vx * t, where t refers to time.
  • The formula for the vertical distance from the ground is y = vy * t – g * t^2 / 2, where g refers to the gravity acceleration.
  • The horizontal acceleration is always equal to zero.
  • The vertical acceleration is equal to -g since gravity is the only force which acts on the projectile.
  • The time of flight ends as soon as the object in projectile motion hits the floor. This happens when the vertical distance is equal to zero or, when expressed as a formula: vy * t – g * t^2 / 2 = 0.
  • The range of the projectile refers to the total distance traveled horizontally during the entire flight time.
  • As soon as the projectile reaches its maximum height, its upward movement stops and it starts to fall. This means that the object’s vertical velocity shifts from positive to negative. In other words, the vertical velocity equals zero for a moment. Therefore, if vy – g * t(vy=0) = 0, you can modify the formula to t(vy=0) = vy / g.

What is projectile give example?

Try to think about how an archer sends one of his arrows in the air from his bow. The arrow starts its journey by moving forward and up at the same time with some inclination to the floor. The further the arrow flies, the slower it ascends. Finally, it starts to descend which means that its movement becomes forward and downward until it hits the floor.

If you trace the path of the arrow, you would have a curve or a “parabola.” Any other object which moves, in the same way, is in a projectile motion. There’s only one force which acts on a projectile motion and that’s the force of gravity. When it comes to projectile motion, you always omit or ignore air resistance.

When you think about it, projectile motion is a very logical concept. You can find projectile motion all around us. It’s a very common concept in physics and in other fields as well. Some good examples will help you understand the concept even better. Here are some examples of projectiles in the real world:

  • When a football player kicks the ball during a game.
  • When you fire a cannonball from a cannon.
  • When you fire a bullet from a gun.
  • When you throw a disc in the discus throw.
  • When you hit a golf ball and it takes flight.
  • When a jet or stream of water comes out of a hose.
  • When cars and motorcycles jump during extreme sports.