Projectile motion

Question 1

What is about the vertical and horizontal component that is very important to remember ?

Answer 1

The vertical and horizontal components is projectile motion are independent from each other and need to be evaluated separately.

Question 2

Explain those key terms:
Time of flight.
Maximum height attained.
Range.

Answer 2

1. how long the projectile is in the air
2. the height at which the projectile is momentarily at rest.
3. the horizontal distance travelled by the projectile.

Question 3

What are some assumptions that are made when there is no air resistance

Answer 3

1. the vertical velocity changes due to acceleration of free fall.
2. the vertical displacement and time of flight can be calculated using motion equations (SUVAT).
3. horizontal velocity remains constant.

Question 4

Why does the horizontal velocity remain constant ?

Answer 4

it is because the acceleration of free fall is vertically downwards. the components of this acceleration in the horizontal direction is ZERO.

horizontal acceleration = g cos90 = 0 ms^-2

Question 5

why is the path of a cannonball being fired is curved ?

Answer 5

It is because the vertical component of its velocity is increasing with time while the horizontal component of its velocity is unaffected.

Question 6

how can we find the magnitude of the actual velocity of a projectile ?

Answer 6

we can use Pythagoras theorem to find the actual velocity or the resultant velocity. We will use the vertical and horizontal components of the velocity .

Question 7

How to find the angel made by the actual velocity to the horizontal?

Answer 7

the angel would equal
tan^-1 (Vy/Vx)