What counts as a horizontal projectile?

Any object launched with a purely horizontal velocity from a height above the ground, with no initial upward or downward component. Gravity provides the only vertical acceleration throughout the flight.

What value of g does the calculator use?

The standard gravitational acceleration of 9.80665 m/s² (metric) or 32.174 ft/s² (imperial). These are the internationally accepted standard values.

Does air resistance affect the result?

No. The calculator uses the idealized kinematics model (no drag). For low-speed objects over short ranges the error is negligible; for high-speed or long-range scenarios real trajectories will be shorter.

Can I use this for objects thrown at an angle?

This tool is specifically for horizontal launches (launch angle = 0°). For angled launches you need a full projectile motion calculator that includes an initial vertical velocity component.

What is the impact angle?

The angle below the horizontal at which the object hits the ground, computed as arctan(v_y / v_x). A steeper angle means the object is falling faster relative to its horizontal speed at impact.

Horizontal Projectile Calculator

Name: Horizontal Projectile Calculator
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Enter the launch height and initial horizontal velocity to instantly find range, time of flight, and impact speed.

Inputs

Launch Height (m)

Vertical distance from launch point to ground.

Initial Horizontal Velocity (m/s)

Speed at the moment of launch (horizontal only).

Key Formulas

t = sqrt(2h / g)
R = v₀ × t
vᵧ = g × t
v_impact = sqrt(v₀² + vᵧ²)
θ = arctan(vᵧ / v₀)

Results

Enter height and velocity, then press Calculate.

Summary

Enter the launch height and initial horizontal velocity to instantly find range, time of flight, and impact speed.

How it works

Enter the initial height (in meters) from which the object is launched.
Enter the initial horizontal velocity (in m/s).
The calculator applies kinematics: time of flight = sqrt(2h/g), range = v * t.
Final vertical velocity is v_y = g * t; resultant speed = sqrt(v_x^2 + v_y^2).
All intermediate formulas are shown so you can follow the math.
Switch between metric (m/s) and imperial (ft/s) with the unit toggle.

Use cases

Physics homework — verify hand-calculated projectile answers.
Lab reports — quickly find theoretical range for comparison with experiment.
Engineering — estimate where an object ejected horizontally from a height will land.
Sports science — model a ball rolling off a table or ledge.
Teaching — demonstrate the independence of horizontal and vertical motion.
Game development — cross-check projectile trajectory math.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-09 · Reviewed by Nham Vu