9

Science
Quarter 4 – Module 1:
Horizontal & Vertical Motions
of a Projectile

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Science – Grade 9
Quarter 4 – Module 1: Horizontal & Vertical Motions of a Projectile
First Edition, 2021

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Published by the Department of Education

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Roland O. Tacan
Editors: Honey Lynne A. Boyles, Romel S. Villarubia, Lulu Belle Foronda
Reviewers: Aubrey B. Argote, Melliza Jane B. Jocoy
Lay-out Artist: Roland O. Tacan
Management Team:
Josephine L. Fadul – Schools Division Superintendent
Melanie P. Estacio – Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Christine C. Bagacay – Chief - Curriculum Implementation Division
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Lorna C. Ragos – Education Program Supervisor in LRMS

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Department of Education – Division of Tagum City

Office Address: E-Park Apokon, Tagum City

Telefax: (084) -215-3504

E-mail Address: [email protected]

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Physical Science
Quarter 4 – Module 1:
Horizontal & Vertical Motions
of a Projectile

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Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear
learners, can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities,
questions, directions, exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you
to understand each lesson.
Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-
step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.
Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge on lessons in each
SLM. This will tell you if you need to proceed on completing this module or if
you need to ask your facilitator or your teacher’s assistance for better
understanding of the lesson. At the end of each module, you need to answer
the post-test to self-check your learning. Answer keys are provided for each
activity and test. We trust that you will be honest in using these.
In addition to the material in the main text, notes to the Teacher are also
provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how
they can best help you on your home-based learning.
Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any part
of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and
tests. And read the instructions carefully before performing each task.
If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering the
tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.
Thank you.

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Let Us Learn

Good day everyone!

You are now equipped with knowledge and skills to conquer the
lessons you are about to learn on this module!

This module was designed and written with you in mind. This will help
you to deepen your understanding regarding the Horizontal and Vertical
Motions of a Projectile. Its parts are made to cater to the diverse cognitive
level and skills of the learners. The lesson is arranged to follow the
standard sequence and the competencies of the course.

In this module, we will journey towards our understanding of the

Horizontal and Vertical motions of the projectile. At the end of the module,
you will be able to:

Describe the horizontal and vertical motions of a projectile. (S9FE-IVa-34)

Specifically, you will be able to:

a. differentiate horizontal motion from vertical motion.
b. describe the motion of the projectile vertically and horizontally; and
c. solve problems in the horizontal & vertical motion a projectile.

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Let Us Try

Wait For a while students! Are you ready to start?

Before we start learning this module, let us try to assess how far you
have known the topic of this module.

Multiple Choice. Directions: Choose the letter of the best/correct answer.

Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper. You may check your
answers in the Answer Key section at the end of this module.

1. Ball A is thrown horizontally, while B is dropped from the same height

at the same time. Which of the following events will happen?

a. Ball B will have a greater speed when it reaches the ground.

b. Ball A and B will reach the ground at the same time.
c. Ball A reach the ground first.
d. Ball B reach the ground first.

2. The path traced by a projectile affected by air resistance is

______________.
a. Asymmetric
b. Horizontal
c. Parabolic
d. Straight upward

For Questions 3-4: At the top of a building 125 meters high, a dense
ball is shot horizontally such that its initial velocity is 20 m/s.

https://www.fortbendisd.com/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinst
anceid

3. How much time elapses before the ball strikes the ground?
a. 1 sec b. 2 sec c. 4 sec d. 5 sec e. 6 sec

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4. How far from the base of the building will the ball strike the ground?
a. 10 m b. 25 m c. 50 m d. 100 m e. 200 m

5. Projectile motion has two components, horizontal (x) and vertical (y) as
can be seen below. The horizontal motion has:
a. Constant acceleration
b. changing velocity
c. constant velocity
d. changing acceleration

6. Projectile motion has two c What is the path of a projectile?

a. Projectiles do not follow a predictable path.
b. a hyperbola
c. a wavy line
d. a parabola

6. Which of the following is the motion of objects moving in two dimensions

under the influence of gravity?
a. Horizontal velocity
b. projectile motion
c. parabola
d. directrix

7. Which of the following is an example of projectile motion?

a. a bullet being fired from a gun
b. a jet lifting off a runway
c. a space shuttle orbiting Earth
d. dropping an aluminum can into the recycling bin

8. A model rocket flies horizontally off the edge of the cliff at a velocity of 50.0
m/s. If the canyon below is
a. 112 m
b. 225 m
c. 337 m
d. 400

10. Which of the following is NOT an example of projectile motion?

a. a hot-air balloon drifting toward Earth
b. a long jumper in action
c. a volleyball served over a net
d. a baseball hit by a bat

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Let Us Study

Are you ready students? Let us start with this a quick brainstorm in
the image below!

Where does the bullet go, downward or upward?

You have learned that when an object is dropped, it will accelerate

toward Earth’s center along a straight vertical line.

Activity 1: Marble Race!

Directions: Answer the given questions based on the situation below.

Write your answer on the separate sheet of paper.

Suppose you have two marbles. You hold marble A in your right hand
and marble B in your left hand. Place both your hands near your hipline.
From the point, simultaneously drop the marble A vertically, and throw
marble B horizontally with an initial velocity.

Guide questions:

1. Which will reach the ground first, marble A or marble B? Why?

Support your answer.
2. How many sounds did you hear? Explain your answer.

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Activity 2. Predict Me A Yes or No!

Directions: Write your predictions/assumptions on the given vector

quantity if is present in horizontal motion and vertical motion. Just write
your answer on the separate sheet of paper

Vector Quantity Horizontal Motion Vertical Motion

Forces
(Present?- Yes or No)
(if present in what direction?
Acceleration
(Present?- Yes or No)
(if present in what direction?
Velocity
(Present?- Yes or No)
(if present in what direction?

Guide Questions:

1. How would you know that this vector quantity is present in

horizontal motion or vertical motion? Support your answer.

2. Based in the given activities, how would you differentiate horizontal

motion from vertical motion.
Projectile Motion

The motion of an object thrown or projected into the air, subject to only
the acceleration of gravity. (This choice of axes is the most sensible, because
acceleration due to gravity is vertical—thus, there will be no acceleration
along the horizontal axis when air resistance is negligible.)

A projectile motion has two dimensions: horizontal motion with velocity

vx and vertical motion with velocity vy. Neglecting air resistance, the
horizontal motion has constant velocity since there is no net horizontal force
acting on it. The horizontal distance traveled by a projectile within the total
time t of its flight is called the range R. it is given by the equation.

R= vixt

Where: R = range; vx = horizontal motion; vy = vertical motion

On the other hand, the vertical motion of a projectile is constant

acceleration similar to the motion of a free-falling object. Like a ball dropped
from a height, the projectile accelerates downward because of Earth’s gravity.

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The increase in velocity along the vertical direction causes greater vertical
distances to be covered in each successive time interval. The height h or total
vertical distance through which the projectile falls after the time t of flight is
described by the equation:

h= ½ gt2

Where: h = height;

The final vertical velocity vfy is determined by the equation:

Vfy = gt

Where: Vfy = Final Vertical motion; g = gravity (9.8 m/s2 or 10 9.8 m/s2)
t = time

To summarize the equations for projectiles thrown horizontally. It is

important to note that the horizontal motion of a projectile is completely
independent from its vertical motion. However, the velocity of a projectile as
it strikes the ground is the combination of the horizontal and vertical
velocities. In equation form,

Vf = Vfx2 + vfy2

Where: Vfx = Final Horizontal Motion; Vfy2 = Final Vertical motion

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Equation for Projectiles

Horizontal Motion Vertical Motion

R= vi t
x h= ½ gt2

Vx = constant vy = gt

Horizontally Launched Projectiles: Horizontal Dimension

Imagine a cannonball being launched from a cannon atop a very high

cliff. Imagine as well that the cannonball does not encounter a significant
amount of air resistance. What will be the path of the cannonball and how
can the motion of the cannonball be described? The illustration below depicts
such a situation.

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The path of the cannonball is shown; additionally, the horizontal and
vertical velocity components are represented by arrows in the illustration.

https://www.physicsclassroom

As can be seen in the illustration, the cannonball follows a parabolic

path. As the cannonball falls, it undergoes a downward acceleration. A
downward moving cannonball which is gaining speed is said to have a
downward acceleration.
In the illustration, the downward acceleration is depicted by a change
in the vertical component of velocity. This downward acceleration is caused
by a downward force of gravity which acts upon the ball. If the ball's motion
can be approximated as projectile motion (that is, if the influence of air
resistance can be assumed negligible), then there will be no horizontal
acceleration. In the absence of horizontal forces, there would be a constant
velocity in the horizontal direction. In the animation, this is depicted by the
fact that the horizontal velocity component remains the same size throughout
the entire motion of the cannonball.

Many would insist that there is a horizontal force acting upon the
cannonball since it is moving horizontally. Yet this is simply not the case. The
horizontal motion of the cannonball is the result of its own inertia. When
launched from the cannon, the cannonball already possessed a horizontal
motion, and thus will maintain this state of horizontal motion unless acted
upon by a horizontal force. An object in motion will continue in motion with
the same speed and in the same direction (Newton's first law).

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Remind yourself continuously: forces are not required for an object to
be moving; once in motion, the presence of forces will only serve to accelerate
such objects.

Non-Horizontally Launched Projectiles

Now suppose that our cannon is aimed upward and shot at an angle
to the horizontal from the same cliff. In the absence of gravity (i.e., supposing
that the gravity switch could be turned off) the projectile would again travel
along a straight-line, inertial path. An object in motion would continue in
motion at a constant speed in the same direction if there is no unbalanced
force. This is the case for an object moving through space in the absence of
gravity. However, if the gravity switch could be turned on such that the
cannonball is truly a projectile, then the object would once more free-fall
below this straight-line, inertial path. In fact, the projectile would travel with
a parabolic trajectory. The downward force of gravity would act upon the
cannonball to cause the same vertical motion as before - a downward
acceleration.

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/vectors/hlp.cfm

The cannonball falls the same amount of distance in every second as it

did when it was merely dropped from rest (refer to diagram below). Once
more, the presence of gravity does not affect the horizontal motion of the
projectile. The projectile still moves the same horizontal distance in each
second of travel as it did when the gravity switch was turned off. The force of
gravity is a vertical force and does not affect horizontal motion; perpendicular
components of motion are independent of each other.

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Equations for the Horizontal Motion of a Projectile

The above equations work well for motion in one-dimension, but a

projectile is usually moving in two dimensions - both horizontally and
vertically. Since these two components of motion are independent of each
other, two distinctly separate sets of equations are needed - one for the
projectile's horizontal motion and one for its vertical motion. Thus, the three
equations above are transformed into two sets of three equations.
For the horizontal components of motion, the equations are:

a. x = vix(t) + 0.5 (ax) (t2)

b. vfx = vix + ax (t)

c. vfx2 = vix2 + 2 (ax) (x)

where: x = horizontal displacement ax = horiz. acceleration t = time

vfx = final horizontal velocity vix = initial horizontal Velocity

Of these three equations, the top equation is the most commonly used.
An application of projectile concepts to each of these equations would also
lead one to conclude that any term with ax in it would cancel out of the
equation since ax = 0 m/s2. Once this cancellation of ax terms is performed,
the only equation of usefulness is:

x = vfx (t)

Sample Problem:

A soccer ball is kicked horizontally off a 22.0-meter-high hill and lands

a distance of 35.0 meters from the edge of the hill. Determine the initial
horizontal velocity of the soccer ball.

Given:
Horizontal: Vertical:
X= 35.0m y= 22.0 m
Vix= ? Viy= 0 m/s
Ax= 0 m/s2 ay= 9.8m/s2

Answer:

t= 2.12 s
Vix = 16.5 m/s

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Equations for the Vertical Motion of a Projectile

For the vertical components of motion, the three equations are:

a. y = viy(t) + 0.5(ay) (t2)

b. vfy = viy + ay (t)

c. vfy2 = viy2 + 2 (ay) (y)

where: y = vertical displacement ay = vertical acceleration

t = time vfy = final vertical velocity v
iy = initial vert. velocity
In each of the above equations, the vertical acceleration of a projectile
is known to be -9.8 m/s/s (the acceleration of gravity). Furthermore, for the
special case of the first type of problem (horizontally launched projectile
problems), viy = 0 m/s. Thus, any term with viy in it will cancel out of the
equation.

The two sets of three equations above are the kinematic equations that
will be used to solve projectile motion problems.

Let Us Practice

Job well done! You might have known about horizontal and vertical
motion of a projectile.
Now, let us proceed to the next level of your understanding the lesson!

ACTIVITY 3A: Quick Solve!

Directions: Solve the given problem by filling out the table. Write your
answer on the separate sheet of paper.

Problem 1. An object is thrown horizontally with a speed of 30m/s from

the top of the building. Complete the table below given the indicated time
intervals. (Use g= 10 m/s2)

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Time (s) Vertical Horizontal Vertical Horizontal
Displacement Displacement Velocity Velocity
(m) (m) (m/s) (m/s)
0 0 0 0 0
1 5 30 10
2
3
4

Guide Questions:

a. Calculate the Vertical displacement and velocity of an object.

b. Calculate the Horizontal displacement and velocity of the object.
c. Describe the horizontal and vertical motion through graph
representation. (Vertical Displacement vs. Time and Horizontal Velocity
vs. Time.)

Problem 2. A bullet is fired horizontally with a speed of 6.0x102 m/s from

a height of 48 m.

Guide Questions:

a. How long will it take the bullet to hits the ground?

b. What is the range of the projectile? Assume that there is no air
resistance.

Activity 3B: Illustrate & Draw Me!

Directions: Based in the given problem illustrate through drawing and

solve what is being asked.

Problem: A stone is thrown horizontally from the roof of a building

with an initial velocity of 20m/s. It hits the ground at a point that is 70 m
from the edge of the building. Find the height of the building.

Guide questions:

1. Draw and illustrate the motion of the object based on the given
problem.
2. Solve the height of the building.
3. Is the direction of the stone is parabolic as its hit the ground?
Why? Support your answer.

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ACTIVITY 4. Describe Me!

Directions: Identify and describe which row in the table shows the
horizontal velocity and vertical velocity of the package just before it hits
the ground based on the situation.

A package is released from a helicopter flying horizontally at a constant

velocity of 40m/s1. The package takes 3.06s to reach the ground. The effects
of air resistance can be ignored.

http://grove.ea.dundeecity.sch.uk/our-school/departments/sciences/physics

horizontal velocity vertical velocity (m/s)

(m/s)
A 0 30
B 30 30
C 30 40
D 40 30
E 40 40

Guide Questions:

1. Which of the following row/s shows the horizontal velocity and

vertical velocity of the package? Why? Support your answer.

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Let Us Practice More

Excellent! You have made this far. But wait, there is more. Let us
have another practice!

Activity 5. Try To Solve Me!

Directions: Solve the given problems. Write your answer in the

separate sheet of paper.
1. A soccer ball is kicked horizontally off a 22.0-meter-high hill and
lands a distance of 35.0 meters from the edge of the hill. Determine
the initial horizontal velocity of the soccer ball.

2. At a firing range a pellet is fired horizontally at a target 40 m away.

It takes 0∙20 s for the pellet to reach the target.

http://grove.ea.dundeecity.sch.uk/our-school/departments/sciences/physics

a. Solve the vertical velocity of the pellet on reaching the target.

b. Calculate the vertical drop.

3. A water balloon is fired across a street, exactly following the contours

of a parabolic bridge. The balloon is fired from ground level, reaches
a maximum height of 12.3 meters, and lands across the street, 19.2
meters away.

a) What was the y-component of the velocity?

b) How long was the balloon in the air? (Multiple ways to figure this
out)
c) What was the x-component of the velocity?
d) At what speed and angle (above the horizontal) was the balloon
launched?

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Activity 6. Fill Me Out!

Directions: Fill in the table below indicating the value of the horizontal
and vertical components of velocity and acceleration for a projectile.

Time Vx (m/s) Vy (m/s) ax (m/s2) ay (m/s2)

0 15 29.4
1
2
3
4
5
6

Let Us Remember

Congratulations! You made a great job!

At this moment, let’s sum up the things you have learned in this
module.
• A projectile is any object with an initial horizontal velocity and travel
under the influence of gravity alone.
• Projectile motion is a combination of two types of motion:
a. Vertical motion- similar to the motion of a free-falling body.
b. Horizontal motion- with uniform velocity.

• Horizontal motion:
Vx = constant
R = Vix (t)
A=0
• horizontal components of motion, the equations are:
a. x = vix(t) + 0.5 (ax) (t2)

b. vfx = vix + ax (t)

c. vfx2 = vix2 + 2 (ax) (x)

• Vertical motion
Vy = gt
h = 1/2gt2
a=g=constant

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vertical components of motion, the three equations are:

a. y = viy(t) + 0.5(ay) (t2)

b. vfy = viy + ay (t)
c. vfy2 = viy2 + 2 (ay) (y)

• The range of projectile is the distance traveled in horizontal direction.

R = Vixt

Let Us Assess

Surely, you have learned a lot from this module on horizontal and
vertical motion of projectile. Now, it is time to test the learning you have
learned! Let’s Go!

Multiple Choice: Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

Write the letter of your choice on a separate sheet of paper.

1. If a projectile is launched horizontally from a height of 12 m, how long will

it take to hit the ground?
a. 2.45 seconds
b. b. 5.16 seconds
c. 1.56 seconds
d. 4.25 seconds

2. A projectile is launched horizontally at 25 m/s from a tower 30 m high.

What can I do to increase the time the projectile is in the air?
a. Launch downward instead of horizontal.
b. Launch with a greater velocity.
c. Launch with a smaller velocity.
d. Launch from a higher tower.

3. The vertical acceleration of any projectile is,

a. depends on the launch velocity.
b. depends on the angle of launch.
c. is always 9.8 m/s2.
d. is always -9.8 m/s2.

4. A plane flying horizontally at 120 m/s drops a crate. When the crate strikes
the ground 15 seconds later, what is the magnitude of the horizontal
component of its velocity?
a. 147 m/s
b. b. 800 m/s
c. 120 m/s
d. 8 m/s

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5. When an object is launched horizontally, what is the initial vertical
velocity?
a. 0 m/s
b. It's always 9.8 m/s
c. It depends on the horizontal launch speed.
d. It depends on the color of the object being launched.

6. Gun #1 is fired horizontally at 10 m/s and gun #2 is fired horizontally at

50 m/s. Which bullet hits the ground first?
a. It depends on the caliber of the bullets.
b. They both will hit at the same time.
c. Bullet #2
d. Bullet #1

7. A peace plane drops off a care package to some wildfire survivors. If the
plane is 890 m in the air, how long will it take the package to land?

https://quizizz.com/admin/quizprojectile-motion-horizontal-and-vertical

a. 181.6 seconds b. 90.8 seconds

e. 13.5 seconds d. 27 seconds
8. The horizontal component of a projectile's velocity is independent of,
a. the vertical component b. it's range
b. time d. none of these
9. At the instant a ball is thrown horizontally with a large force, an identical
ball is dropped from the same height. Which ball hits the ground first?
a. Neither- they hit at the same time b. the horizontally thrown ball
c. the dropped ball d. none of these
10. A ball is thrown into the air at some angle. At the very top of the ball's
path, its velocity is.
a. both vertical and horizontal c. entirely horizontal
b. entirely vertical d. not enough info

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Let Us Enhance

Salute to you! You have made this far! Let’s try applying your gained
knowledge throughout this module.
Direction: From the puzzle below write the five word that you have found
in the puzzle. Write your answer on the separate sheet of paper.

A M T O H Y G L P N
V C F R S B M E D U
E E V E Y C K L T G
M S E G T F I I R I
H O R I Z O N T A L
R E T D R D U C W B
U A I I E E E E T D
I F C V O S D J W T
O E A G R N U O E F
L I L H D E T R R A
N U P D O X G P I X
J T Y S L A O F U S
K Y G U U C Y C L C
L R G T H E M V O Y

Let Us Reflect

Congratulations! You are almost done!

Let us reflect and connect the concept of horizontal & vertical motions
of a projectile through application.

Activity. Draw ME!

Directions: In a long bond paper, draw two (2) situations in which you can
observe two dimensions of a projectile motion and explain each situation.

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Rubrics for the Poster-Making

CATEGORY 5 3 2 1
Graphics All graphics All graphics All graphics Graphics do
Relevance are related to are related to relate to the not relate to
the topic and the topic and topic. the topic.
make it most make it
easier to easier to
understand. understand.
Graphics Several of the One two of The graphics No graphics
Originality graphics the graphics are made by made by the
used on the used on the the student, student are
poster reflect poster reflect but are included
an student based on the
exceptional creativity in designs or
degree of their creation ideas of
student and/or others
creativity in display
their creation
and/or
display
Attractiveness The poster is The poster is The poster is
The poster is
exceptionally attractive in acceptably
distractingly
attractive in terms of attractive
messy or
terms of design, though it
very poorly
design, layout and may be a bit
designed. It
layout and neatness. messy is not
neatness attractive.
Grammar There are no There is 1 There are 2 There are
grammatical grammatical grammatical more than 2
mistakes on mistake on mistakes on grammatical
the poster the poster the poster mistakes on
the poster

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=ShowRubric&rubric_id=1357669&

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Let Us Assess 19 Activity 6
1. C The vx values will remain constant
2. D at 15.0 m/s for the entire 6
seconds; the ax values will be 0
3. D
m/s/s for the entire 6 seconds.
4. C
5. A The vy values will be changing by -
6. B 9.8 m/s each second. Thus,
7. C
8. A vy = 29.4 m/s (t = 0 s)
9. A vy = 19.6 m/s (t = 1 s)
10. C vy = 9.8 m/s (t = 2 s)
vy = 0 m/s (t = 3 s)
vy = -9.8 m/s (t = 4 s)
vy = -19.6 m/s (t = 5 s)
vy = -29.4 m/s (t = 6 s)
The ay values will be -9.8 m/s/s
for the entire 6 seconds.
Vector Quantity Horizontal Motion Vertical Motion
Forces No Yes
(Present?- Yes or No) The force of gravity acts
downward
(if present in what
direction?
Acceleration No Yes
“g” is downward T 9.8 m/s2
(Present?- Yes or No)
(if present in what
direction?
Velocity Constant Changing
By 9.8 m/s2
(Present?- Yes or No)
(if present in what
direction?
Activity 2:
Let Us Try
Activity 1 1. B
2. C
1. The marble A and B will reach the ground at the same 3. 3
time because of the gravity. 4. B
2. Many sounds 5. B
6. D
7. A
8. B
9. B
10. a
Answer key to Activities
References

https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/independence-horizontal-
vertical-motion-basketball/’
https://www.slideshare.net/pearlgrace19/projectile-motion-grade-9
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/vectors/hlp.cfm
https://www.fortbendisd.com/site/handlers/filedownload
https://www.manhassetschools.org/cms/lib8/NY01913789/Centricity/Domain/328/Ve
ctor
http://grove.ea.dundeecity.sch.uk/our-school/departments/sciences/physics

Illustrations:

Comic style bullet by Olena Panasovska from the Noun Project

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Division of Tagum City

E-Park, Apokon, Tagum City

Telefax: (084)-216-3504

Email Address: [email protected]

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