Projectile Motion

Here is a simple breakdown of projectile motion based on your notes:

1. What is a Projectile?

   • A projectile is any object thrown or dropped into the air that falls under the influence of gravity alone (assuming air resistance is completely ignored).

   • Examples include a stone thrown horizontally or an object dropped from a moving train window.

2. What is a Trajectory?

   • The curved path that the object follows through the air during its flight.

3. How Projectile Motion Works:

   • Projectile motion is two-dimensional (it moves horizontally and vertically at the same time).

   • Horizontal (Sideways) Motion: Because there is no horizontal force acting on it, the horizontal speed stays completely constant throughout the flight.

   • Vertical (Up-and-Down) Motion: Gravity continuously pulls the object downward, changing its vertical speed.

   • Horizontal and vertical motions are independent of each other.

4. Launching at an Angle:

   • When an object is launched with an initial speed $u$ at an angle $\theta$ with the ground, its speed is split into two parts:

     • Horizontal component: $u \cos(\theta)$

     • Vertical component: $u \sin(\theta)$