Projectile Motion

Projectile motion is motion under gravity in two dimensions.

Assumptions

• No air resistance
• Acceleration due to gravity is constant
• Motion is independent in horizontal and vertical directions

Equations of Motion

Horizontal:

$$ x = u \cos\theta \, t $$

Vertical:

$$ y = u \sin\theta \, t - \frac{1}{2}gt^2 $$

Trajectory Equation

$$ y = x \tan\theta - \frac{g x^2}{2u^2 \cos^2\theta} $$

This is a parabola.

Diagram: Projectile Motion