Projectile motion Flashcards
What is the definition of fluid mechanics?
The study of forces acting upon a body travelling through water/air
What is air resistance?
Force opposing the direction of motion of an airborne object
What is drag?
Force opposing the direction of motion of a body travelling through a fluid
What factors affect air resistance/drag?
Velocity Frontal cross sectional area Streamlining/shape Surface characteristics Temperature Altitude/air density Mass
How does velocity affect air resistance/drag?
The higher the velocity, the higher the AR/drag
How does frontal cross sectional area affect air resistance/drag?
The smaller the frontal cross sectional area the smaller the AR/drag
How does streamlining/shape affect air resistance/drag?
The more streamlined, the less AR/drag
The teardrop shape is the most streamlined
How does surface characteristics affect air resistance/drag?
The smoother the surface, the less AR/drag
How does temperature affect air resistance/drag?
The lower the temperature the more AR/drag as density of air increases
How does altitude/air density affect air resistance/drag?
The lower the air density/higher the altitude the less AR/Drag
How does mass affect air resistance/drag?
The higher the mass, the more AR/drag
Describe the speedo LZR swimming suite/its restrictions
Full body suite that is hydrophobic, reduces drag so increases velocity.
Must be above knee and below belly button (men)
Why was the spyder tripwire suite banned from skiing?
Reduce AR up to 40%
Banned because gave some performers an unfair advantage
Thin wire pulls pads in to reduce surface area and therefore, AR. Can still have ones that reduce AR by 20%.
Definition of projectile motion?
Motion of a body through the air following a curved flight path.
What is the definition of a projectile?
A body launched through the air and losing contact with a contact/ground surface.
What is the definition of a parabola?
A uniform curve symmetrical about its highest point
What force is dominant when the flight path is a true parabola?
Weight
What force is dominant when the flight path is non-parabolic?
Air resistance
How does air resistance affect the flight path of an object?
The greater the effect of AR the greater the projectile will deviate from a true parabolic flight path.
Why does a shot put have a parabolic flight path?
Weight is dominant.
Shot has a large mass.
Travels at a low velocity and has a smooth and small frontal cross sectional area so a small AR.
Why does a shuttlecock have a non parabolic flight path?
AR is the dominant force.
Shuttle has a small mass.
Travels at a high velocity and has a rough/large frontal cross sectional area so has a large AR
What affects the flight path of a projectile?
Speed of release
Angle of release
Height of release
Aerodynamic factors (Bernoulli/Magnus)
What is the primary factor affecting the horizontal distance travelled?
Speed of release
Which one of Newton’s laws links to speed of release?
Second law of acceleration
How do you link Newton’s second law to a projectile?
The greater the force applied to the projectile, the greater the change in momentum and acceleration of the projectile into the air at the point of release.
As acceleration of the projectile increases what happens to horizontal distance?
It increases.
Therefore, there is a greater importance for upper body strength to enable throwing related sports.
What is the optimum angle of release for projectiles released from the ground?
45 degrees
What happens if a projectile is released at less than 45 degrees from the ground?
Does not achieve sufficient height to maximise flight path time. Decrease height = decrease flight time = decrease distance.