Projectile Motion

Q: What is projectile motion?

A: Projectile motion is the motion of an object thrown into the air, subject only to the influence of gravity.

Q: What is the trajectory of a projectile?

A: The trajectory of a projectile is the path it follows through the air.

Q: What is the shape of the trajectory of a thrown basketball?

A: The trajectory of a thrown basketball follows a special type of arch-shaped curve called a parabola.

Q: What is the range of a projectile?

A: The range is the distance a projectile travels horizontally.

Q: What is vertical displacement in projectile motion?

A: Vertical displacement refers to the height or altitude of the projectile.

Q: What is the maximum height of a projectile?

A: The maximum height is the highest point a projectile reaches in its flight.

Q: What is the velocity vector (v)?

A: The velocity vector (v) describes both the speed and the direction of motion of a projectile.

Q: How does gravity affect the velocity of a falling ball?

A: Gravity causes the velocity of a falling ball to increase as it falls, with an acceleration of 9.8 m/sec².

Q: Does gravity affect the horizontal velocity of a projectile?

A: No, gravity does not exert any horizontal force, so the horizontal velocity remains constant while the projectile falls.

Q: What is the horizontal acceleration of a projectile?

A: The horizontal acceleration is zero (ax = 0) because gravity does not affect horizontal motion.

Q: How does the vertical velocity (vy) change over time?

A: The vertical velocity increases by 9.8 m/sec every second. After one second, vy is 9.8 m/sec, after two seconds, vy is 19.6 m/sec, and so on.

Q: What determines how the initial velocity is divided between vertical and horizontal directions?

A: The launch angle determines how the initial velocity divides between the vertical (y) and horizontal (x) directions.

Q: How does the launch angle affect the projectile's vertical and horizontal velocity components?

A: A steep launch angle results in a large vertical velocity component and a small horizontal velocity component.

Q: What factors affect the range of a projectile?

A: The range depends on the launch velocity and the launch angle.

Q: When does a projectile have the greatest range?

A: A projectile travels farthest and has the greatest range when launched at a 45-degree angle.

Q: What gives a projectile its "hang" time?

A: The vertical velocity is responsible for giving the projectile its hang time.