Projectile Motion

The key to solving two-dimensional problems is to break them up into two one-dimensional parts, then recombine them to produce a final answer. You will have a set of givens in the x-direction and another set in the y-direction.

Projecto shot horizontally:

a_x =0                                          a_y =  - 9.8 m/s²

v_x = constant                              v_y changing

Δd_x = range                                Δd_x = height

Use the formulas:

Δd_x= v_x Δt                                  Δd_y= v_y Δt + ½ a_y Δt²

If you can find the Δt in x direction, then transfer it in the y direction and find the height.

If you can’t find Δt in the x-direction calculate it in the y-drection, and then transfer it to y-direction to find the range.