What horizontal projectile motion is
Horizontal projectile motion describes an object launched with a purely horizontal velocity from some height, such as a ball rolled off a table. Gravity pulls it downward while its horizontal speed stays constant (ignoring air resistance).
The formulas used
Fall time is found from t = √(2h/g), where h is the launch height and g is gravitational acceleration. Horizontal range is simply the horizontal speed multiplied by that fall time. Impact velocity combines the unchanged horizontal speed with the vertical speed gained from falling, using the Pythagorean theorem.
This calculator assumes no air resistance and a launch height above flat, level ground. Gravity is taken as 9.81 m/s². For general physics education purposes.
Last reviewed August 2026