10.4 General Equations
The work done in this chapter can now be repeated for the general case using algebra.
Assume a particle is projected from the origin with speed u at an angle α to the horizontal and that the only force acting on the particle is the force due to gravity. The x and y axes are horizontal and vertical through the origin, O, in the plane of motion of the particle.
Figure 10.15
The components of velocity and position:
The maximum height:
At its greatest height, the vertical component of velocity is zero.
From Equation 2:
Substitute in Equation 4 to obtain the height of the projectile:
The greatest height is:
The time of flight:
The range:
The equation of the path:
