Projectile motion

Question 1

What does projectile motion mean ?

Answer 1

When someone or something is moving in the air

Question 2

What are some examples of projectile motion ?

Answer 2

• Shuttlecock in Badminton
• High jump
• Netball shot

Question 3

What forces affect projectile motion ?

Answer 3

• weight
• air resistance
• magnus effect
• aerodynamic lift

Question 4

What are the factors affecting projectile motion ?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

How does the angle of release affect projectile motion ?

Answer 5

• The optimum angle of release is dependent on the release height and the landing height
• When both of these heights are equal, the optimum angle of release is 45 degrees
• E.g. a long jumper
• If the release height is below the landing height then the angle needs to be above 45 degrees
• If the release height is above the landing height then the angle needs to be below 45 degrees

Question 6

How does the speed of release affect projectile motion ?

Answer 6

• the greater the velocity, the greater the horizontal displacement
• E.g. in shotput the speed of the shift ensures the shot leaves at maximum velocity

Question 7

How does the height of release affect projectile motion ?

Answer 7

• A greater release height results in an increase of horizontal displacement
• For example, as gravity is always acting on the mass of a shot put which means they should try to release the shot put at the highest point above the ground

Question 8

What 2 factors affect projectiles whilst in the air ?

Answer 8

• Weight
• Air resistance

Question 9

What is a parabola ?

Answer 9

A uniform curve that is a uniform curve that is symmetrical at it’s highest point

Question 10

What is a factor that means a true parabola occurs ?

Answer 10

• large weight force
• means they have small air resistance
• e.g. shot put

Question 11

What is an example of a non-parabolic flight ?

Answer 11

• A shuttlecock
• They have a lighter mass
• This mean they have a large amount of air resistance
• As the shuttle goes down so does the air resistance
• deviates from a true parabola

Question 12

What is a horizontal component ?

Answer 12

The horizontal motion of an object

Question 13

What is a vertical component ?

Answer 13

The vertical motion of an object

Question 14

What is the magnus effect ?

Answer 14

• applies to spinning balls
• if the shape of the flight path differs from a parabola then a combination of forces must be relatively large compared to the weight