What is the Projectile Motion Calculator?
Calculate range, max height and flight time of a projectile launched from ground level. Projectile motion describes anything launched through the air under gravity, from a football kick to water from a hose.
How to use the Projectile Motion Calculator
- Enter your launch speed, your launch angle, your gravity.
- Results update automatically as you type; you can also press Calculate.
- Read the output: range, max height, flight time.
- Use the 📊 chart to see the result visually, then copy or share it.
Formula and method
Worked example
With launch speed = 25 m/s, launch angle = 45 °, gravity = 9.80665 m/s², the Projectile Motion Calculator returns range: 63.732 m; max height: 15.933 m; flight time: 3.605 s.
Where the Projectile Motion Calculator helps in real life
A coach wants to know how far a ball kicked at 20 m/s and a 40° angle travels on flat ground. The calculator gives the range, maximum height and flight time.
A physics student tests different launch angles to see why 45° gives the longest range when air resistance is ignored.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Giving the launch angle in radians to a field that reads degrees.
- Expecting real balls to travel as far as the no-drag result.
- Using a launch height above ground in a ground-level formula.
- Mixing km/h and m/s for launch speed.
💡 Practical tip: Without air resistance, a 45° launch gives the greatest range on level ground.
Tips for better results
- Convert speeds to m/s before entering them.
- Compare complementary angles such as 30° and 60° — they give the same range.
- Treat results as upper limits for light or fast objects.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Projectile Motion Calculator do?
Calculate range, max height and flight time of a projectile launched from ground level.
How is it calculated?
The Projectile Motion Calculator uses this method: R = v² sin 2θ ÷ g.
Can you show an example?
With launch speed = 25 m/s, launch angle = 45 °, gravity = 9.80665 m/s², the Projectile Motion Calculator returns range: 63.732 m; max height: 15.933 m; flight time: 3.605 s.
Is the Projectile Motion Calculator accurate?
Yes. It uses standard formulas and exact constants, and the results are verified by our automated test suite. Values are displayed to up to 12 significant digits.
Is this tool free and private?
Yes — the Projectile Motion Calculator is completely free with no sign-up, and it runs entirely in your browser, so the values you enter are never uploaded to our servers.
Related tools
📬 Get new tools first — free
Join Taurang to hear about new calculators, converters and features. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.