Projectile Range
The time for a projectile - a bullet, a ball or a stone or something similar - thrown out with an angle Θ to the horizontal plane - to reach the maximum height can be calculated as
t h = v i sin(Θ) / a g (1)
where
t h = time to reach maximum height (s)
v i = initial velocity of the projectile (m/s, ft/s)
Θ = the initial angle of the velocity vector to the horizontal plane (degrees)
a g = acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2, 32.174 ft/s2)
The total flight time can be expressed as
t s = 2 t h
= 2 v i sin(Θ) / a g (2)
where
t s = time for the total flight (s)
The maximum elevation - h - of the flight can be calculated as
h = 1/2 a g t h 2 (3)
where
h = flight maximum elevation (m, ft)
The horizontal distance of the flight can be expressed as
s = v i 2sin(2 Θ ) / a g (4)
where
s = flight distance (m, ft)
Example - Throwing a Ball
A ball is thrown with initial velocity 25 m/s in angle 30 degrees to the horizontal plane. The time for the ball to reach maximum level is
t h = ( 25 m/s ) sin(30 degrees) / ( 9.81 m/s2)
= 1.27 s
The maximum elevation of the ball can be calculated as
h = 1/2 ( 9.81 m/s2) ( 1.27 s < )2
= 7.91 m
The horizontal distance traveled by the ball can be calculated as
s = ( 25 m/s )2sin(2 30 degrees ) / ( 9.81 m/s2)
= 55.2 m
Projectile Flight Calculator
The calculator below can be used to estimate the time of flight, time to reach maximum elevation, maximum elevation and flight distance for a projectile like a bullet or a ball or something similar.
Note that friction force due to air resistance is neglected.
Note that friction force due to air resistance is neglected in the charts above. For higher velocities range and maximum height will be dramatically reduced.
Related Topics
• Dynamics
Motion of bodies and the action of forces in producing or changing their motion - velocity and acceleration, forces and torque.
• Mechanics
The relationships between forces, acceleration, displacement, vectors, motion, momentum, energy of objects and more.
Related Documents
Acceleration of Gravity and Newton's Second Law
Acceleration of gravity and Newton's Second Law - SI and Imperial units.
Angular Motion - Power and Torque
Angular velocity and acceleration vs. power and torque.
Centripetal and Centrifugal Acceleration Force
Forces due to circular motion and centripetal / centrifugal acceleration.
Conservation of Momentum
The momentum of a body is the product of its mass and velocity - recoil calculator.
Distance Traveled vs. Speed and Time - Calculator and Chart
Velocity plotted in time used diagram.
Formulas of Motion - Linear and Circular
Linear and angular (rotation) acceleration, velocity, speed and distance.
Impulse and Impulse Force
Forces acting a very short time are called impulse forces.
Kinetic Energy
Energy possessed by an object's motion is kinetic energy.
Satellites in Orbit
Orbital and escape velocity for geostationary satellites.