A projectile is an object that is propelled by the application of an external

force In physics, a force is an influence that can cause an Physical object, object to change its velocity unless counterbalanced by other forces. In mechanics, force makes ideas like 'pushing' or 'pulling' mathematically precise. Because the Magnitu ...

and then moves freely under the influence of gravity and air resistance. Although any objects in

motion In physics, motion is when an object changes its position with respect to a reference point in a given time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed, and frame of reference to an o ...

through space are projectiles, they are commonly found in warfare and

sport Sport is a physical activity or game, often Competition, competitive and organization, organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The numbe ...

s (for example, a thrown baseball, kicked football, fired bullet, shot arrow, stone released from catapult). In ballistics, mathematical equations of motion are used to analyze projectile trajectories through launch, flight, and impact.

Motive force

Blowguns and pneumatic rifles use compressed gases, while most other guns and

cannon A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder during th ...

s utilize expanding gases liberated by sudden chemical reactions by propellants like smokeless powder. Light-gas guns use a combination of these mechanisms.

Railgun A railgun or rail gun, sometimes referred to as a rail cannon, is a linear motor device, typically designed as a ranged weapon, that uses Electromagnet, electromagnetic force to launch high-velocity Projectile, projectiles. The projectile norma ...

s utilize electromagnetic fields to provide acceleration along the entire length of the device, greatly increasing the muzzle velocity. Some projectiles provide

propulsion Propulsion is the generation of force by any combination of pushing or pulling to modify the translational motion of an object, which is typically a rigid body (or an articulated rigid body) but may also concern a fluid. The term is derived from ...

during flight by means of a

rocket engine A rocket engine is a reaction engine, producing thrust in accordance with Newton's third law by ejecting reaction mass rearward, usually a high-speed Jet (fluid), jet of high-temperature gas produced by the combustion of rocket propellants stor ...

or jet engine. In military terminology, a rocket is unguided, while a missile is guided. Note the two meanings of "rocket" (weapon and engine): an ICBM is a guided missile with a rocket engine. An explosion, whether or not by a weapon, causes the debris to act as multiple high velocity projectiles. An explosive weapon or device may also be designed to produce many high velocity projectiles by the break-up of its casing; these are correctly termed '' fragments''.

In sports

In projectile motion the most important force applied to the projectile mass is the propelling force. In many sports, the propelling forces are provided by muscles that accelerate the projectile (ball, disc, javelin, hammer, dart), and the stronger the propelling force, the faster and farther the projectile will travel. See pitching, bowling.

As a weapon

Delivery projectiles

Many projectiles, e.g. shells, may carry an explosive charge or another chemical or biological substance. Aside from explosive payload, a projectile can be designed to cause special damage, e.g. fire (see also early thermal weapons), or poisoning (see also arrow poison).

Kinetic projectiles

Wired projectiles

Some projectiles stay connected by a cable to the launch equipment after launching it: * for guidance:

wire-guided missile A wire-guided missile is a missile that is guided by signals sent to it via thin wires connected between the missile and its guidance mechanism, which is located somewhere near the launch site. As the missile flies, the wires are reeled out beh ...

(range up to ) * to administer an electric shock, as in the case of a Taser (range up to ); two projectiles are shot simultaneously, each with a cable. * to make a connection with the target, either to tow it towards the launcher, as with a whaling harpoon, or to draw the launcher to the target, as a grappling hook does.

Typical projectile speeds

Equations of motion

An object projected at an angle to the horizontal has both the vertical and horizontal components of velocity. The vertical component of the velocity on the y-axis is given as

V_y=U\sin\theta

while the horizontal component of the velocity is

V_x=U\cos\theta

. There are various calculations for projectiles at a specific angle

\theta

: 1. Time to reach maximum height. It is symbolized as (

t

), which is the time taken for the projectile to reach the maximum height from the plane of projection. Mathematically, it is given as

t=U \sin\theta/g

where

g

= acceleration due to gravity (app 9.81 m/s²),

U

= initial velocity (m/s) and

\theta

= angle made by the projectile with the horizontal axis. 2. Time of flight (

T

): this is the total time taken for the projectile to fall back to the same plane from which it was projected. Mathematically it is given as

T=2U\sin\theta/g

. 3. Maximum Height (

H

): this is the maximum height attained by the projectile OR the maximum displacement on the vertical axis (y-axis) covered by the projectile. It is given as

H = U^2 \sin^2\theta/2g

. 4. Range (

R

): The Range of a projectile is the horizontal distance covered (on the x-axis) by the projectile. Mathematically,

R = U^2 \sin 2\theta/g

. The Range is maximum when angle

\theta

= 45°, i.e.

\sin 2\theta=1

Notes

References

External links

Open Source Physics computer model

Projectile Motion Applet

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