AP Physics 1 · Unit 1 · Kinematics

Projectile Motion Practice Problems

Combine horizontal motion with vertical free fall. Practice horizontal and angled launches, targets at different heights, barrier clearance, and two launch angles that give the same range.

12 questions6 conceptual · 6 calculation

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Simulation scene from the Projectile Motion lesson. — A scene from the related lesson. Open the practice to work through the questions.

What you’ll practice

Connect two directions through one flight time

Separate horizontal and vertical motion

Resolve launch velocity into components. Use constant horizontal velocity and downward vertical acceleration when air resistance is negligible.

Solve for flight and landing

Calculate flight time, range, maximum height, and velocity at selected points. Include the difference between launch and landing heights.

Test a target or barrier

Find a projectile’s height at a given horizontal position. Compare complementary launch angles for a level-ground landing.

A question from this set

Dropped and launched horizontally

Two balls start at the same height at separated positions along a ledge. One is dropped from rest; the other is launched horizontally. They are released simultaneously, and air resistance is negligible. Which reaches the lower level first?

The horizontally launched ball, because it has more speed.
They reach the lower level at the same time.
The dropped ball, because it follows the shorter path.

Try it in the practice set

Both balls start at the same height; one also has a horizontal launch velocity.

Key ideas

One clock connects the two components

Horizontal velocity stays constant

With gravity acting vertically, horizontal acceleration is zero. Use the horizontal displacement and velocity to find the time at a target or barrier.

Vertical motion determines height

Use the same time in the vertical-motion equation. At the peak of an angled launch, vertical velocity is zero while horizontal velocity generally remains nonzero.

See the physics

Follow the flight and compare component graphs

Check your answer, then run the prepared launch. Compare dropped and horizontally launched balls, inspect velocity components, and see whether a calculated trajectory clears its barrier or reaches the target.

Use a hint for a starting point or open a worked solution to follow the reasoning. Your progress saves in this browser, so you can return to unfinished questions.

Ready for projectile motion?

Begin with a conceptual question, then work through the calculations.

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