Projectile Motion and Circular Motion Flashcards

Flashcards about projectile motion and related concepts.

What is the significance of launching a projectile at a 45-degree angle?

It results in the furthest launching distance (longest range).

What is the vertical velocity of a horizontally launched projectile at the moment of launch?

0 m/s

What is air resistance, and why don’t we usually account for it in projectile motion problems?

Air resistance opposes an object’s movement through the air; we typically don’t account for it in calculations because its effect is small.

How is the force of gravity involved in projectile motion?

It determines the flight time of the projectile.

What is a projectile?

The motion of an object that is thrown or launched into the air.

What is a trajectory?

The path of the object.

What is centripetal acceleration?

The rate of an object changing direction as it travels around a circular path.

What is centripetal force?

The force(s) that cause an object to move in a circular path.

How is Newton’s first law related to the horizontal component of velocity in projectile motion?

No horizontal force means no change in horizontal velocity.

What is uniform circular motion?

The movement of an object along a circular path at a constant speed.

What is tangential velocity?

The speed of an object in an orbital path.

What is interesting about 30 and 60 degree launch angles (with no air resistance)?

They have the same range when launched at ground level.