Projectile motion Flashcards
Define projectile motion
the motion of an object through the air at an angle
State the 3 factors that determine the horizontal displacement of an object
- Height of release
- Velocity of release
- Angle of release
Describe the concept of height of release
The higher an object is released from - the lager the horizontal displacement is (the further it will go)
Describe the concept of velocity of release
The greater the velocity of an object (greater external force) the further it will go
Describe the concept of angle of release
The is always an optimal angle of release.
Displacement will not increase with the angle of release - unlike velocity and height of release
What two things should be considered in angle of release?
- Release height
- Landing height
Describe the optimal angle of release for long jump
Release height = landing height
Optimal angle of release is 45 degrees
Describe the optimal angle of release for shot put
Release height > landing height
Optimal angle of release is less than 45 degrees
Describe the optimal angle of release for a basketball free throw
Release height < landing height
Optimal angle of release is greater than 45 degrees
What two flight paths can a projectile have?
Parabolic or distorted parabolic
What is another term for parabolic?
Symmetrical
What is another term for distorted parabolic?
Asymmetrical
Give a sporting example with a parabolic flight path
Shot putting
Give a sporting example with a distorted parabolic flight path
Shuttlecock in badminton
What are the two main forces that affect projectiles in the air?
Weight and air resistance
What happens to a projectile if the AR is low?
It will have less effect on the momentum of the object and therefore the object will have a parabolic flight path
What object has a low AR?
One with a large weight e.g. shot-put
What happens to the projectile if the AR is high?
It will have a subsequent effect on the momentum of the object and therefore will have a distorted parabolic flight path
Describe the flight path of a shotput
- 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
Give the important 4 of the flight path of shot put
- Horizontal force (momentum) stays the same throughout flight in all four areas (release point, highest release, opposite angle of release, point before contact)
- Highest point only has this horizontal force drawn
- Size of downward arrow opposite release point should be equal to vertical force (muscular)
- Downward arrow (W) should be longer at point of contact than previous downward arrow
