U2.3 – Projectile Motion

A flask of coffee is knocked horizontally from the roof of a car 1.45 m off the ground at 14 ms^-1. Calculate how long it takes to reach the ground. g_Earth = 9.81 ms^-2

A shotput is launched on sports day by the strongest Y7. She throws it at an angle of 30° at a speed of 18 ms^-1, releasing it at a height of 1.9 m. Calculate how far she throws it. g_Earth = 9.81 ms^-2

There are exploration rovers on the Moon. One rover malfunctions and can't be controlled from Earth, it maintains a constant velocity of 8 kmh^-1 in the same direction. After some time it reaches the edge of a crater and goes over the edge, falling 300 m to the ground.

Calculate how long it takes to fall. g_Moon = 1.62 ms^-2

A school decided to go paintballing for staff team building. The Head of Science aims her paintball gun horizontally 1.6 m above ground at the Headteacher, launching the paintball at 92 ms^-1. She hits him on his thigh, 90cm from the ground. Calculate the distance away the Headteacher was stood. g_Earth = 9.81 ms^-1

A bride excitedly throws a bouquet of flowers behind her back at 12 ms^-1 her wedding at an angle of 45°. They are released from a height of 2.1 m and are caught just off the floor by her best man Sam.

Calculate how far away Sam was stood. g_Earth = 9.81 ms^-2

An ill prepared student asks for a pen to write with in class, and the teacher grudgingly lends one out. Instead of walking over to the student, the teacher decides to throw them the pen. The teacher throws the pen at angle of 14° and a speed of 23 ms^-1. Sadly, the teacher misses and the pen continues on it's projected path out the window and takes 5 seconds to hit the car park outside.

Calculate the height different between the point of release and the car park floor. g_Earth = 9.81 ms^-2

Marvin the Martian fires his gun horizontally at Bugs Bunny at a height of 60 cm. It fires at 550 ms^-1, but misses. Calculate how far away from Marvin the shot lands. g_Mars = 3.71 ms^-2

Mount Teide in Tenerife is a dormant volcano and has a peak of 3,718 m, making it the highest point in Spain. If thrown(!) at an angle of 40°, with a velocity of 1.94x10⁴ ms^-1 will a piece of pumice land in Tarfaya (Arabic: طرفاية), Morocco 367 km away? Assume no obstacles and no air resistance. g_Earth = 9.81 ms^-2

Neil Armstrong uses a catapult to horizontally shoot a rock at Buzz Aldrin on the Moon from a height of 2 m. He misses and it lands at Buzz's feed, 20 m from where it was fired.

Calculate the velocity the rock was fired at from the catapult. g_Moon = 1.62 ms^-2

Burj Khalifa (Arabic: برج خليفة‎) is the tallest building in the world stood at 828 m. A family are stood at a observation deck at 555 m and the super strong toddler throws it's rattle away at a velocity of 21 ms^-1 and an angle of 43°.

Calculate how long the rattle takes to hit the ground. g_Earth = 9.81 ms^-2