Vertical Projectile Max Height Calculator
Enter the initial upward velocity of a projectile launched straight up to calculate its maximum height and the time it takes to reach that peak.
Vertical Projectile Max Height Calculator
Calculates the maximum height and time to peak for an object launched straight up, ignoring air resistance.
This calculator uses the standard constant-acceleration kinematics equations for an object launched straight upward under gravity alone: maximum height equals initial velocity squared divided by twice the gravitational acceleration, and time to peak equals initial velocity divided by gravitational acceleration. It's the classic 'ball thrown straight up' physics problem, though like most introductory projectile-motion formulas it ignores air resistance, so real objects with significant drag will fall slightly short of the calculated height.
Example
- With the default values shown above, this calculator returns: Maximum Height ≈ 20.41 m; Time to Reach Peak ≈ 2.04 s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this account for air resistance?
No — this calculator uses idealized projectile motion equations that ignore air resistance, so real-world maximum height for objects with significant drag (like a beach ball) will be somewhat lower than shown.
What if the object isn't launched straight up?
This calculator specifically covers a purely vertical launch; for an angled launch you'd need to first find the vertical component of the initial velocity before using these formulas.
Sources
- Standard formula, publicly documented method