Projectile Motion

Question 1

Define Projectile Motion

Answer 1

The motion of an object or the human body being projected into the air at an angle

Question 2

Define a projectile

Answer 2

A projectile is an object in motion through space

Question 3

What factors determine the horizontal displacement of a projectile?

Answer 3

Velocity of release
Height of release
Angle of release

Question 4

What is velocity of release?

Answer 4

The greater the velocity of an object the further it will go

Question 5

What is the height of release?

Answer 5

The greater the height of release of an object the further it will go

Question 6

What is the angle of release?

Answer 6

There Is always an ‘Optimal’ angle for release

Question 7

What does an increase in velocity of release led to?

Answer 7

An increase in the velocity of release, or an increase in height of release, will generally lead to an increase in the horizontal displacement of an object.
-Basically if an object is released at a faster rate or from a higher level it should travel further.
-This is not the case with the angle of release. A projectile will always have am ‘Optimal’ angle of release
-Displacement will not increase as the angle increases-unlike velocity and height

Question 8

Explain the angle of release

Answer 8

When considering the angle of release of an object it is important to consider two things:
1. Height of release
2. Landing height

Question 9

Give sporting examples of angle of release

Answer 9

long Jump
-Release height=landing height
-optimal angle of release=45degrees
ShotPut
-Release height>landing height
-Optimal angle of release=less than 45 degrees
Free Throw
-Release height< Landing height
-Optimal angle of release =greater than 45 degrees

Question 10

What are flight paths?

Answer 10

A projectile can either have a Parabolic (Symmetrical) flight path or a Distorted parabolic (asymmetrical) flight path

Question 11

What are the forces that affect Projectiles?

Answer 11

There are two main forces that affect projectiles when they are in the air:
-Weight (W)-Vertical Force
-Air resistance (AR)- Horizontal force
-If AR is low and has little effect on the momentum of an object, the object will have a parabolic flight path
-Objects with a large weight have a small air resistance
-If AR is high it will have a subsequent effect on the momentum of the object therefore it will have a distorted parabolic flight path.

Question 12

Explain the flight path of a shot put

Answer 12

-The speed of a shotput is relatively slow and the weight is large, therefore we do not need to consider AR
- Momentum will be constant
-Therefore the flight path of a shot put will be parabolic
-Angle of release must be less than 45 degrees due to the height of release. Elite shot putters tend to release around 34 degrees (This varies depending on the height and strength of the shot putter)
-Positive vertical components (action force) quickly turn into negative vertical components due to gravity
- Gravity plays a large role in determine distance
-Velocity of release is the key to distance, as the steeper the angle of release, the slower the velocity