4.3 - Projectile Motion

Question 1

what is projectile motion?

Answer 1

the movement of either an object/ human body as they travel through the air
e.g long jump / gymnastic vault

Question 2

what is horizontal displacement?

Answer 2

the shortest distance from the starting point to the finishing point in a line parallel to the ground

Question 3

what are the factors that affect the horizontal displacement of a projectile?

Answer 3

• angle of release
• speed of release
• height of release

Question 4

what is the optimum angle of release dependent on?

Answer 4

release height and landing height

Question 5

what is the optimum angle when both the release height and landing height are equal?

Answer 5

• e.g long jumper
• 45 degrees

Question 6

what is the optimum angle when the release height is below the landing height?

Answer 6

• e.g shooting in basketball
• needs to be greater than 45 degrees

Question 7

what is the optimum angle when the release height is greater than the landing height?

Answer 7

• e.g throwing a shot put
• needs to be less than 45 degrees
  (optimum for a shot putter is 26-38 –> smaller angle means more speed is generated)

Question 8

how does the speed of release affect horizontal displacement?

Answer 8

• greater the release velocity of a projectile, the greater the horizontal displacement travelled
• e.g shot put: speed of rotation across the circle means the shot put can leave the hand at max velocity –> greater horizontal displacement achieved

Question 9

how does the release height affect horizontal displacement?

Answer 9

• greater the release height, greater the horizontal displacement
• e.g shot put: gravity is constantly acting on the shot put –> the shot putter should then try to release the shot at the highest point above the ground

Question 10

what are the factors that affect flight paths of projectiles?

Answer 10

gravity
air resistance

Question 11

what is a parabola?

Answer 11

a uniform curve that is symmetrical at its highest point

Question 12

what is an example of a parabolic flight path?

Answer 12

shot put
- large weight force –> small air resistance

Question 13

make sure you are able to draw the FORCES acting on the parabolic flight path of a shot put

Question 14

what is an example of a distorted parabola?

Answer 14

• badminton shuttlecock
• lighter mass –> effects of air resistance are greater
• in serve, shuttle starts off with high velocity due to force of racket, as it continues the flight path slows down as air resistance increases

Question 15

make sure you are able to draw the FORCES acting on the distorted parabolic flight path of a shuttlecock

Question 16

define horizontal component.

Answer 16

the horizontal motion of an object

Question 17

define vertical component

Answer 17

the upward motion of an object

Question 18

how do you draw vectors?

Answer 18

• arrow
• representing magnitude and direction
• bigger arrow = more magnitude

Question 19

make sure you are able to draw the VECTORS on the parabolic flight path of a shot put

Question 20

what remains constant in the vector diagrams of a shot put?

Answer 20

the horizontal component

Question 21

what is the resultant vector?

Answer 21

when the horizontal and vertical vectors are put together
- shows the true flight path of the shot put