PROJECTILE MOTION

PROJECTILES Projectile: any object that is launched with an initial velocity and continues to move; affected only by the force of gravity. Trajectory: the path a projectile follows. Usually parabolic Range: horizontal distance covered by a projectile Height: the maximum vertical distance reached by a projectile

PROJECTILES Forces: NONE! Velocity: Constant Acceleration: ZERO! Motion in the x-direction Motion in the y-direction Forces: NONE! Velocity: Constant Acceleration: ZERO! Displacement: object will move equal distances every second. Forces: GRAVITY! Velocity: Changes (gets faster going down) Acceleration: -9.81m/s2 Displacement: the object will move more distance each second.

HORIZONTALLY LAUNCHED When a projectile is launched horizontally, all of its initial velocity is in the x-direction. vx is constant, so the distance in the x-direction is the same every second vy is increasing due to the force of gravity, so the distance in the y-direction increases every second.

PROJECTILES LAUNCHED AT AN ANGLE At the Top: vy = 0 ay is constant (g = -9.81 m/s2) vx = only velocity; constant On the Way Up: vy decreases ay is constant (g = -9.81 m/s2) dy decreases each second On the Way Down: vy increases ay is constant (g = -9.81 m/s2) dy increases each second

EFFECT OF VARIOUS LAUNCH ANGLES