Physics Learning Tool

Projectile Motion Calculator and Visualizer

Change the launch speed, angle, height, and gravity to see how projectile motion creates a curved path through the air.

Built for exploring projectile motion, range, time of flight, maximum height, and launch angle.

What is projectile motion? It is the motion of an object after it is launched. The horizontal speed stays steady, while gravity pulls the object downward.
25 m/s

How fast the projectile leaves the launcher.

40 deg

Measured upward from the horizontal ground line.

0 m

Set this above zero for a cliff, table, or platform launch.

9.81 m/s^2

Earth is about 9.81 m/s^2.

Range62.75 m
Time of flight3.28 s
Max height13.17 m
vx19.15 m/s
vy16.07 m/s
Impact speed25.00 m/s
x = v0 cos(θ)t,   y = y0 + v0 sin(θ)t - 1/2 gt2 Projectile motion splits into horizontal motion and vertical motion.
Step-by-step calculation

    What to notice in projectile motion

    Horizontal motion

    The horizontal velocity vx stays constant when air resistance is ignored.

    Vertical motion

    The vertical velocity vy changes because gravity accelerates the projectile downward.

    Angle matters

    A higher angle gives more height, while a lower angle gives more forward motion.

    Practice with this projectile motion tool

    Try changing one value at a time and watch the labeled diagram. This makes it easier to connect formulas with the path you see.

    projectile motionrange calculatortime of flightmaximum heightlaunch angle