Projectile motion

Question 1

Define projectile motion

Answer 1

the motion of an object through the air at an angle

Question 2

State the 3 factors that determine the horizontal displacement of an object

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Describe the concept of height of release

Answer 3

The higher an object is released from - the lager the horizontal displacement is (the further it will go)

Question 4

Describe the concept of velocity of release

Answer 4

The greater the velocity of an object (greater external force) the further it will go

Question 5

Describe the concept of angle of release

Answer 5

The is always an optimal angle of release.
Displacement will not increase with the angle of release - unlike velocity and height of release

Question 6

What two things should be considered in angle of release?

Answer 6

1. Release height
2. Landing height

Question 7

Describe the optimal angle of release for long jump

Answer 7

Release height = landing height
Optimal angle of release is 45 degrees

Question 8

Describe the optimal angle of release for shot put

Answer 8

Release height > landing height
Optimal angle of release is less than 45 degrees

Question 9

Describe the optimal angle of release for a basketball free throw

Answer 9

Release height < landing height
Optimal angle of release is greater than 45 degrees

Question 10

What two flight paths can a projectile have?

Answer 10

Parabolic or distorted parabolic

Question 11

What is another term for parabolic?

Answer 11

Symmetrical

Question 12

What is another term for distorted parabolic?

Answer 12

Asymmetrical

Question 13

Give a sporting example with a parabolic flight path

Answer 13

Shot putting

Question 14

Give a sporting example with a distorted parabolic flight path

Answer 14

Shuttlecock in badminton

Question 15

What are the two main forces that affect projectiles in the air?

Answer 15

Weight and air resistance

Question 16

What happens to a projectile if the AR is low?

Answer 16

It will have less effect on the momentum of the object and therefore the object will have a parabolic flight path

Question 17

What object has a low AR?

Answer 17

One with a large weight e.g. shot-put

Question 18

What happens to the projectile if the AR is high?

Answer 18

It will have a subsequent effect on the momentum of the object and therefore will have a distorted parabolic flight path

Question 19

Describe the flight path of a shotput

Answer 19

• Speed of shot put is slow and weight is large, so air resistance is negligible
• Momentum is constant
• Flight path is therefore parabolic
• Angle of release must be less than 45 degrees due to the height of release being higher than landing height -> velocity of release is the key to distance as the steeper the angle of release the slower the release of velocity

Question 20

Give the important 4 of the flight path of shot put

Answer 20

1. Horizontal force (momentum) stays the same throughout flight in all four areas (release point, highest release, opposite angle of release, point before contact)
2. Highest point only has this horizontal force drawn
3. Size of downward arrow opposite release point should be equal to vertical force (muscular)
4. Downward arrow (W) should be longer at point of contact than previous downward arrow