Projectile Motion

Question 1

What is a projectile?

Answer 1

A projectile is the motion that any object or body possesses when released into the air.

A projectile is influenced by air resistance and gravity

Question 2

What are the factors that influence a projectile?

Answer 2

• Speed of release
• Height of release
• Angle of release

Question 3

What is speed of release?

Answer 3

Distance a projectile travels = Horizontal Velocity x Flight Time

Flight time is influenced by the height of release and the vertical velocity at release

Hence, increasing the speed of release will increase the horizontal distance of a projectile.

Question 4

What is angle of release?

Answer 4

The angle of release is measured by the centre of gravity of the object.

A projectile is usually released between 0° and 90°
However in sporting examples like bowling a cricket ball, the angle of release is below horizontal (less than 0°)

To decrease the maximum height of the trajectory and flight time of a projectile, a smaller angle of release is required.

To increase the maximum height of the trajectory and flight time of a projectile, a larger angle of release is required

Question 5

What is height of release?

Answer 5

If the speed and angle of release are kept constant, changing the height of release will affect the horizontal distance the projectile travels.