Dynamics

Question 1

What is projectile motion?

Answer 1

Projectile motion describes the motion of any object that is freely moving in the Earth’s gravity. It is caused by uniform velocity in one direction and a uniform acceleration in a perpendicular direction.

Projectile motion involves both horizontal and vertical components of motion.

Question 2

What is the value of acceleration in the vertical motion?

Answer 2

9.81 ms-2 downwards

This value represents the acceleration due to gravity on Earth.

Question 3

What is the value of acceleration in the horizontal motion?

Answer 3

0 ms-2

In the absence of air resistance, horizontal motion does not experience acceleration.

Question 4

What value links the two components of motion?

Answer 4

time

The time of flight is the same for both vertical and horizontal components.

Question 5

If an object is fired horizontally, what is its initial velocity in the vertical direction?

Answer 5

0 ms-1

An object fired horizontally has no initial vertical velocity.

Question 6

If you are unsure where to start in a question, what should you do?

Answer 6

Make lists of u, v, a, s, t for both vertical and horizontal to see what you know for each.

This strategy helps in organizing known values to solve projectile motion problems.