What value of gravity does this calculator use?

It uses g = 9.81 m/s², the standard acceleration due to gravity at Earth's surface. You can switch to a custom g value (e.g., 3.72 m/s² for Mars) using the custom gravity option.

Does the calculator account for air resistance?

No. This is an idealized model that ignores air drag, wind, and the Coriolis effect. Real-world ranges and heights will differ, especially at high speeds or over long distances.

What angle gives the maximum range on flat ground?

A 45-degree launch angle produces the maximum horizontal range on level terrain when air resistance is neglected. Angles above and below 45 degrees give shorter ranges.

Can I use feet and miles per hour instead of meters and m/s?

Yes. Select Imperial units in the settings section and the calculator will accept speed in ft/s and output range and height in feet.

What does time of flight mean?

Time of flight is how long the projectile stays airborne from launch until it returns to the same elevation (or the target elevation, if you set a non-zero target height).

What are the three formulas of projectile motion?

For launch from ground level with speed v0 and angle θ: range R = v0²·sin(2θ)/g; maximum height H = v0²·sin²(θ)/(2g); and time of flight T = 2·v0·sin(θ)/g, where g = 9.81 m/s². This calculator evaluates all three for you.

Projectile Motion Calculator

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

Enter initial speed and launch angle to instantly calculate range, max height, time of flight, and velocity components.

Launch Parameters

Initial Speed

Launch Angle (degrees)

0° 45° 90°

Initial Height (optional)

Gravity

Output Units

Enter launch parameters and click Calculate.

Summary

Enter initial speed and launch angle to instantly calculate range, max height, time of flight, and velocity components.

How it works

Enter the initial launch speed (v0) and choose metric (m/s) or imperial (ft/s) units.
Enter the launch angle (θ) in degrees, measured from the horizontal.
Optionally set a custom gravity g (default 9.81 m/s²) and a target launch/landing height.
Click Calculate to resolve velocity into v0x = v0·cos θ and v0y = v0·sin θ.
Read the horizontal range, maximum height, time of flight, and velocity components.

Use cases

Physics homework and exam preparation for projectile motion problems.
Engineering analysis of ballistic trajectories without air resistance.
Sports science — estimating ball flight distances in soccer, basketball, or golf.
Game development — sanity-checking projectile physics against the analytical model.
Teaching kinematics concepts interactively in a classroom setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

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