LESSON 7 PROJECTILE MOTION

Projectile motion

is the curved path an object follows when it is thrown or launched into the air and moves under the influence of gravity alone, with no propulsion or air resistance acting on it after launch.

Projectile

An object undergoing projectile motion

Trajectory

The arc-curve like motion path undergone by projectile

Angle ∅

A numerical value in degrees (°) expressing the orientation of the projectile to be thrown or projected

Horizontal motion (x-component)

• It neglects air resistance

• There is a constant velocity (Vx)

• Horizontal acceleration is 0. (Ax=0)

• We call the horizontal distance as RANGE

Vertical motion (y-component)

• The force acting upon in this motion is the force of gravity (g=ay=ag) (g= -9.8 ms²)

• Vertical velocity is not constant (Vy)

• We call the vertical distance as the height (h=dy)

Vx

Horizontal velocity responsible for the projectile to travel at a horizontal distance

Vy

Vertical velocity responsible for the projectile to travel at a vertical distance

Range

Horizontal distance covered by the projectile

Height

The vertical distance from the projectile to the Earth's surface

Angle launched projectiles

• The projectile rises, the vertical velocity is decreasing, this is because the direction of the gravity is opposite to the projectile motion

• As the projectile reaches the maximum height it momentarily stops causing a vertical velocity equal to zero.

• When it returns back to the ground it agrees to the direction of gravitational force. Hence, vertical velocity is increasing

Maximum height

The maximum vertical distance from the Earth's a projectile can reach (Ymax)