Projectile motion

Definition

Projectile motion is the motion of an object thrown or projected into the air, subject to only the acceleration due to gravity. It involves two components of motion: horizontal and vertical.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The horizontal and vertical motions are independent of each other.
2. The horizontal velocity remains constant if air resistance is neglected.
3. The vertical motion is uniformly accelerated due to gravity, typically at $9.8 \text{ m/s}^2$ downward.
4. The path followed by a projectile is a parabola under ideal conditions (no air resistance).
5. At its peak, the vertical component of a projectile's velocity is zero.

Review Questions

• What are the two components of projectile motion?
• How does gravity affect the horizontal and vertical components of a projectile's motion?
• Describe the shape of the trajectory of a projectile in ideal conditions.

Related terms

Horizontal Velocity: The constant velocity in the horizontal direction experienced by a projectile when air resistance is negligible.

Vertical Acceleration: The acceleration experienced by a projectile in the vertical direction due to gravity, typically $9.8 \text{ m/s}^2$ downward.

Trajectory: The path that a projectile follows through space as a function of time, which is parabolic under ideal conditions without air resistance.