Projectile Motion

Question 1

What is a projectile ?

Answer 1

Refers to the movement of either an object (shot/shuttle)
or the human body as it travels through the air.
In sport, as soon as an object is kicked, hit or thrown it becomes a projectile

Question 2

What factors effect horizontal displacement of a projectile ?

Answer 2

Angle of release
Velocity of release
Height of release

Question 3

How does angle of release effect horizontal displacement ?

Answer 3

When release height and landing height are the same e.g. long jump the optimum angle of release is 45°
When release height is greater than landing height e.g. shotput the optimum angle of release less than 45°
When release height is below landing height e.g. a free throw the optimum angle of release is greater than 45°

Question 4

How does velocity of release effect horizontal displacement ?

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

How does the height of release effect horizontal displacement ?

Answer 5

An increase in the 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 forces effect the flight path of different projectiles ?

Answer 6

The two forces which effect projectiles are weight and air resistance
These 2 forces effect wether a projectile has
- a true parabola (uniform curve/symmetrical) e.g. shotput
- a distorted parabola (deviates from true parabola) e.g. shuttlecock

Question 7

Describe the flight of a shuttlecock

Answer 7

With a shuttlecock, it is affected by air resistance Object veers away from parabolic path
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.
The flight path ‘deviates’ from a true parabola.
Resulting in a distorted parabola