a) Projectile motion

a) independence of the vertical and horizontal motion of a projectile

b) two-dimensional motion of a projectile with constant velocity in one direction and constant acceleration in a perpendicular direction

ball one is dropped vertically + ball two is thrown horizontally

• both fall to the ground at the same rate (same distance + same time)

for ball two → vertical component of velocity and acceleration + horizontal component of velocity and acceleration → independent

horizontal velocity → does not affect vertical velocity

ball one + ball two → equal vertical velocity and acceleration

ball two forms a curve when it is thrown horizontally → vertical velocity is increasing + horizontal velocity is constant

the vertical component

• changing velocity

• constant acceleration

the horizontal component

• constant velocity

• zero acceleration

vertical component of acceleration = 9.81ms^-2

• F_x = F × cos(x)

• F_x = 9.81ms^-2 × cos(90) = 0ms^-2

horizontal component of acceleration = 0ms^-2

actual velocity = net velocity including both vertical and horizontal velocity

• actual velocity² = vertical velocity² + horizontal velocity²