Introduction
The Projectile Motion Calculator helps you find out how objects move through the air. When you throw a ball, shoot an arrow, or kick a soccer ball, it follows a curved path called projectile motion. This tool shows you exactly where your object will go, how high it will fly, and how long it will stay in the air.
You can enter the speed and angle of your throw, and the calculator will show you the complete path. It works for any object - from basketballs to golf balls to javelins. The tool also lets you work backwards. If you know where you want your object to land, it can tell you how fast and at what angle to throw it. You can even compare different throws to see which one works best.
The calculator uses real physics formulas to give you exact answers. It shows your results in easy-to-read charts and numbers. You can see the path your object takes, how its speed changes, and when it reaches its highest point. This makes it perfect for students learning physics, athletes improving their game, or anyone curious about how things fly through the air. For similar physics calculations involving motion under gravity, try our Free Fall Calculator which analyzes vertical motion without horizontal components.
How to use our Projectile Motion Calculator
Enter the starting speed, angle, and height of your object to see how it will fly through the air. The calculator will show you how far it goes, how high it reaches, and how long it stays in the air.
Initial Velocity: Type the starting speed of your object. Pick the unit you want from the dropdown menu (meters per second, miles per hour, or others). To understand how velocity changes over time, check our Acceleration Calculator.
Launch Angle: Enter the angle at which your object is thrown or shot. Use 0 degrees for straight forward, 45 degrees for the best distance, and 90 degrees for straight up.
Initial Height: Set how high above the ground your object starts. Leave it at 0 if launching from ground level. For objects falling from height, our Potential Energy Calculator can show the energy stored at different heights.
Gravity: Choose Earth for normal gravity, or pick Moon, Mars, or Jupiter to see how your object would fly on other planets. To explore gravity's effects between objects, visit our Gravitational Force Calculator.
Quick Examples buttons: Click these preset buttons to see common examples like a baseball throw or golf ball drive with real-world values already filled in.
Advanced Mode toggle: Switch to Advanced Mode to add air resistance, set a target landing height, or check the object's position at any specific time during flight.
Calculate button: Press this blue button to run the calculation and see your results appear below with a graph showing the flight path.
Understanding Projectile Motion
Projectile motion happens when an object is thrown or launched into the air and moves along a curved path. Think of a baseball being thrown, a soccer ball being kicked, or a rocket launching into space. These objects all follow the same basic rules of physics. The Kinetic Energy Calculator can help you understand the energy involved in these moving objects.
When something is launched at an angle, two forces act on it. First, the object moves forward at a steady speed. Second, gravity pulls it down toward Earth. These two forces working together create a curved path called a parabola. This is why a thrown ball goes up, reaches a highest point, then comes back down. You can calculate the forces involved using our Force Calculator.
Key Parts of Projectile Motion
The initial velocity is how fast the object starts moving. A faster start means the object will go farther and higher. The launch angle is the direction the object is thrown. An angle of 45 degrees usually gives the longest distance on