Projectile Motion Calculator
Enter a launch speed and angle to find how far a projectile travels, how high it climbs and how long it stays airborne. Adjust gravity and launch height for any scenario.
How to use the projectile motion calculator
- Enter the launch speed in metres per second.
- Enter the launch angle above the horizontal in degrees.
- Optionally set a launch height or a different gravity, then read the range, peak height and flight time.
Examples
Ball thrown at 45 degrees
v = 20 m/s, angle = 45 deg
range = 40.77 m, height = 10.19 m, time = 2.88 s
Thrown straight up
v = 20 m/s, angle = 90 deg
range = 0 m, height = 20.39 m, time = 4.08 s
Frequently asked questions
What formula gives the range of a projectile?
From ground level the range is R = v^2 x sin(2 x angle) / g, where v is launch speed and g is gravity. Range peaks at a 45 degree launch.
How is the maximum height found?
Maximum height is H = (v x sin(angle))^2 / (2 x g), measured from the launch point, plus any starting launch height.
What if the projectile starts above the ground?
With a launch height the flight time comes from the full quadratic for vertical position, so the projectile lands later and travels further than from ground level.
Can I change gravity?
Yes. The default is 9.81 m/s^2 for Earth. Enter 1.62 for the Moon or 3.71 for Mars to model motion on other worlds.
Does this account for air resistance?
No. These are ideal projectile equations with no drag, which match textbook physics problems closely for dense, slow objects.
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