AQA Mechanics 1 Projectiles

Section 1: Projectile motion

Solutions to Exercise
1.

(i)
25 ms-1
30
(ii)

u x 25 cos 30 12.5 3
u y 25 sin 30 12.5

(iii) v x 12.5 3
v y u y gt

(horizontal speed is constant)

12.5 9.8t
(iv)

x u xt
12.5 3t
y u yt 21 gt 2
12.5 t 4.9t 2

2. (i)

At maximum height v y 0
Vertically: v y2 u y2 2 gh

0 12.5 2 2 9.8h
12.5 2
7.97
19.6
Greatest height reached = 7.97 m.

(ii) The particle hits the ground when y = 0:

Vertically: y 12.5 t 4.9t 2
0 t (12.5 4.9t )
12.5
t 0 or t
4.9
Time taken = 2.55 seconds.

(iii) Range = horizontal distance covered during time of flight

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AQA M1 Projectiles 1 Exercise solutions

Horizontally: x 12.5 3t

12.5 3

12.5
4.9

55.2
Horizontal range = 55.2 m.

3. (i)

Horizontally:
Vertically:

v x 50cos 30 25 3
v y u at
50 sin 30 9.8 2
5.4

Speed (25 3)2 5.42 43.6 ms-1 (3 s.f.)

(ii) At greatest height, v y 0
Vertically: 0 50 sin 30 9.8t
25
t
9.8
The time taken to reach the greatest height is 2.55 seconds (3 s.f.)
(iii) Vertically: y 50t sin 30 21 gt 2
2

9.8 25
25
25

9.8
2 9.8
31.9
The greatest height reached = 31.9 m (3 s.f.)

4. (i)

Vertically: s 50
g 9.8
u 0
t ?

s ut 21 at 2

50 0 21 9.8t 2
50
t2
4.9
t 3.19
The time in the air is 3.19 seconds (3 s.f.)
(ii) Horizontally:

x ut
65 u

50
4.9

u 20.3

The initial speed is 20.3 ms-1.

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AQA M1 Projectiles 1 Exercise solutions

s 19.6
g 9.8
u 0
t ?

5. Vertically:

s ut 21 at 2
19.6 0 21 9.8t 2

t2 4
t 2

It hits the ground after 2 seconds.

Horizontally:
x ut

24.5 2
49
Range = 49 m.
When the ball hits ground:
Horizontally:
v x 24.5
Vertically:
v y 0 9.8 2

v y 19.6
Speed 24.5 2 19.62 31.4 ms-1 (3 s.f.).

6. (i)

tan 2

sin

2
5

cos

1
5

1
Horizontally:
Vertically:
(ii) Horizontally:
Vertically:

1
9 5 ms-1
5
2
u y 45 sin 45
18 5 ms-1
5

u x 45 cos 45

vx 9 5
since horizontal velocity is constant
v y u y at
18 5 9.8t

(iii) Horizontally:
Vertically:

x u xt 9 5 t
y u yt 21 gt 2
18 5 t 4.9t 2

(iv) Time of flight is the time at which y = 0

Vertically: 0 18 5 t 4.9t 2

0 t (18 5 4.9t )
18 5
4.9
Time of flight = 8.21 seconds (3 s.f.)

t 0 or t

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AQA M1 Projectiles 1 Exercise solutions

Horizontally: x 9 5 t

18 5
165
4.9
The range is 165 m (3 s.f.)

x 9 5

(v)

At greatest height, v y 0
Vertically: v y2 u y2 2 gh

0 (18 5 )2 2 9.8h
1620
h
82.7
19.6

7. (i)
5

3
Horizontally:
Vertically:

tan

4
3

sin

4
5

cos

3
5

u x 30cos 30 53 18
u y 30 sin 30 54 24

(ii) At maximum height, v y 0

Vertically: v y u y at

0 24 9.8t
24
t
9.8
Time taken to reach highest point = 2.45 seconds (3 s.f.)
Vertically: v y2 u y2 2 gh

0 242 2 9.8h
576
h
29.4
19.6
Maximum height = 29.4 m (3 s.f.).
(iii) Time of flight is twice the time taken to reach highest point
48
4.90 seconds (3 s.f.)
Time of flight
9.8
Horizontally:

x 18t 18

48
88.2
9.8

The range is 88.2 m (3 s.f.)

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AQA M1 Projectiles 1 Exercise solutions

8.

Horizontally:
x 20t
When ball reaches net, x = 12, so 12 20t

t 0.6

Vertically when ball reaches net:

y 0 21 gt 2 4.9 0.62 1.764
The ball has dropped by 1.764 m, so its height is 2.8 1.764 = 1.036
The net is 1 m high, so the ball clears the net by 3.6 cm.

9.

Vertically:
y 0 21 gt 2
To just clear fence, when x = 8, y must be -2.5.
2.5 4.9t 2
25
t2
49
t 57
Horizontally:
x ut
At fence: 8 u 57
u 11.2
When the ball hits the ground, y = -4.9
4.9 4.9t 2

t2 1
t 1
When t = 1, x 11.2 1 11.2
The fence is 8 m away, so it lands 3.2 m beyond the fence.

10. Maximum range is when angle of projection is 45.

When shells hit the ground, y = 0, so 0 210t sin 45 4.9t 2

210

0 t
4.9t
2

210
t 0 or t
4.9 2
At this time, x 210t cos 45
210
1
210

4.9 2
2
4500
Maximum range = 4.5 km.

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AQA M1 Projectiles 1 Exercise solutions

11. (i)

Vertically: v 2 u 2 2as

0 25 sin 50 2 gh
2

25 sin 50 2

18.7
19.6
The greatest height reached by the ball is 18.7 m.
(ii) When x = 50, horizontally: 50 25 t cos 50

2
cos 50
At this time, vertically: y 25 t sin 50 21 gt 2

2
2
25 sin 50
4.9

cos 50
cos 50
12.2
The ball will clear the pavilion.

12. (i)
5

tan

sin

4
3

4
5

cos

3
5

3
When y = 99, y 60t sin 21 gt 2

99 60t 54 5 t 2
5 t 2 48t 99 0
(5 t 33)(t 3) 0
t 3 or t 6.6
The particle is at height 99 m when t = 3 seconds and when
t = 6.6.seconds.
(ii) Horizontally:

x ut cos

60t 53
36t
When t = 3, x 36 3 108
When t = 6.6, x 36 6.6 237.6
The horizontal distances from O are 108 m and 237.6 m.

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