A projectile is shot from the edge of a cliff 125 m above ground level with an initial speed of 65.0 m/s at an angle of 37 degrees with the horizontal.

Determine the following quantities:

– The horizontal and vertical components of the velocity vector.

– The maximum height reached by the projectile above the launch point.

The aim of this question is to understand the different parameters during 2D projectile motion.

The most important parameters during the flight of a projectile are its range, time of flight, and maximum height.

The range of a projectile is given by the following formula:

$$R={\displaystyle \frac{v_i^{2}sin(2\theta )}{g}}$$

The time of flight of a projectile is given by the following formula:

$$t={\displaystyle \frac{2v_{i}sin\theta }{g}}$$

The maximum height of a projectile is given by the following formula:

$$h={\displaystyle \frac{v_i^{2}si{n}^2\theta }{2g}}$$

The same problem can be solved with the fundamental equations of motion. Which are given below:

$$v_f=v_i+at$$

$$S=v_{i}t+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}a{t}^2$$

$$v_f^2=v_i^2+2aS$$

Expert Answer

Given that:

$$v_i=65m/s$$

$$\theta ={37}^{\circ }$$

$$h_i=125m$$

Part (a) – The horizontal and vertical components of the velocity vector.

$$v_{i_x}=v_{i}cos(\theta )=65cos({37}^{\circ })=52m/s$$

$$v_{i_y}=v_{i}sin(\theta )=65sin({37}^{\circ })=39m/s$$

Part (b) – The maximum height reached by the projectile above the launch point.

For upward motion:

$$v_i=39m/s$$

$$v_f=0m/s$$

$$a=-9.8m/s^2$$

Using 3rd equation of motion:

$$S={\displaystyle \frac{v_f^2–v_i^2}{2a}}$$

$$S={\displaystyle \frac{0^2–{39}^2}{2(-9.8)}}$$

$$S={\displaystyle \frac{1521}{19.6}}$$

$$S=77.60m$$

Numerical Result

Part (a) – The horizontal and vertical components of the velocity vector:

$$v_{i_x}=52m/s$$

$$v_{i_y}=39m/s$$

Part (b) – The maximum height reached by the projectile above the launch point:

$$S=77.60m$$

Example

For the same projectile given in the question above, find the time elapsed before hitting the ground level.

For upward motion:

$$v_i=39m/s$$

$$v_f=0m/s$$

$$a=-9.8m/s^2$$

Using 1st equation of motion:

$$t_1={\displaystyle \frac{v_f–v_i}{a}}$$

$$t_1={\displaystyle \frac{0–39}{-9.8}}$$

$$t_1=3.98s$$

For downward motion:

$$v_i=0m/s$$

$$S=77.60+125=180.6m$$

$$a=9.8m/s^2$$

Using 2nd equation of motion:

$$S=v_i{t}_2+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}a{t}_2^2$$

$$180.6=(0)t_2+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}(9.8)t_2^2$$

$$180.6={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}(9.8)t_2^2$$

$$t_2^2=36.86$$

$$t_2=6.07s$$

So the total time:

$$t=t_1+t_2=3.98+6.07=10.05s$$

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