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Physics
Projectile Motion
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Observe uniform horizontal motion and uniformly accelerated vertical motion happening over the same time.
Motion space
Trajectory drawn with the same scale on both axes
Velocity scale:10 m/s
At launch point
Instantaneous values
- t
- 0 s
- x
- 0 m
- y
- 0 m
- vx
- 14.14 m/s
- vy
- 14.14 m/s
- |v|
- 20 m/s
Full-trajectory results
- Flight time T
- 2.89 s
- Maximum height H
- 10.2 m
- Range L
- 40.82 m
- Landing speed
- 20 m/s
Current · 20 m/s · 45° · h0 0 m
T 2.89 s · H 10.2 m · L 40.82 m
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Model notes
- The object is treated as a point mass launched from a height h₀ (0 to 50 m) above flat ground; the origin O is on the ground right below the launch point and Oy points up. A horizontal throw (launch angle 0°) needs h₀ > 0.
- The free-fall acceleration g = 9.8 m/s² is constant and points straight down: the object moves uniformly along the horizontal and with uniform acceleration along the vertical.
- Mass does not affect the trajectory in this model: a heavy or a light object launched with the same v₀, α and h₀ follows the same path, because air resistance is ignored.
- The 45° rule for the greatest range only holds when launch and landing are at the same height; from a height h₀ > 0 the angle for the greatest range is smaller than 45°.
- The model ignores air resistance, wind, rotation, the Magnus effect and the curvature of the Earth, so it does not fully describe real motion.