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)

the vertical and horizontal components of ball two are independent (the horizontal movement does not affect the vertical movement)

• vertical component → constant acceleration

• horizontal component → constant velocity

  • 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

ball two forms a curve as it falls → vertical velocity is increasing + horizontal velocity is constant

• actual velocity = net velocity including both vertical and horizontal velocity

• actual velocity² = vertical velocity² + horizontal velocity²