Biomechanical Movement: Projectile Motion

Question 1

What is projectile motion?

Answer 1

• Refers to the movement of either an object or the human body as it travels through the air.
• In sport, as soon as an object is kciked, hit pr thrown it becomes projectile.

Question 2

What are the factors affecting horizontal displacement of a projectile?

Answer 2

• Angle of release
• Velocity of release
• Height of release

Question 3

What is angle of release dependent on?

Answer 3

• It is dependent on height of release and landing
• Where release height and landing are the same: optimum = 45 degrees
• Where release height is greater than landing height: optimum = less than 45 degrees
• Where release height is below landing height: greater than 45 degrees

Question 4

What is velocity of release?

Answer 4

• “An increase in velocity will increase horizontal displacement”
• In shot put the rotation of the thrower in the circle is designed to make sure the shot leaves with maximum velocity so a greater horizontal displacement can be achieved.

Question 5

What is height of release?

Answer 5

• “An increase in release height will increase horizontal displacement. The taller the shot putter the more advantage they have”
• Force of gravity is constantly acting on the mass of an object, so the higher the release, the greater the horizontal displacement.

Question 6

What are the factors affecting flight paths of different projectiles?

Answer 6

• Weight
• Resistance
• These 2 forces are crucial in deciding whether a projectle has a true parabola (unifrom curve/symmetrical) or a distorted parabola (deviates from true parabola)

Question 7

Flight of the shot with shot put.

Answer 7

• With shot put you dont have to consider air resistance.
• Gravity however, will always remain the same (10m/s2)
• Therefore, the flight path is known as parabolic.

Question 8

Flight of the shot with shuttlecock.

Answer 8

• It’s affected by air resistance. Object deviates away from parabolic path
• It forms an asymmetrical or distorted parabola
• The longer the flight path, the longer the air resistance can affect a projectile
• Projectiles with a lighter mass are affected by air resistance.

Question 9

What are the vector components of parabolic flight?

Answer 9

• A shot put follows a parabolic flight path
• Its initial velocity has a horizontal and vertical component
• These 2 components can be represented by vecotors
• The bigger the arrow the greater the magnitude and vica versa.