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Kinematics of Projectile Motion
Kinematics of Projectile Motion
What is a projectile?
A body in free fall that is subject only to the forces of gravity and air resistance Motion of bodies flung into the air Occurs in many activities, such as baseball, diving, figure skating, basketball, golf, and volleyball A special case of linear kinematics
Maximum horizontal displacement (range) javelin, discus, shot put, long jump, triple jump, football kickoff, golf drive, Maximum vertical displacement (apex) pole vault, high jump, basketball jump ball
3
2 1 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Range (distance) (m)
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
10 20 30 40 45 50 60 70 80
Vertical displacement
Trajectory
Projectile as a Vector
Initial velocity of projectile is a vector
Speed (Magnitude) Angle (Direction) Point of origin
Both land at the same time since gravity affects their vertical velocities equally.
The pattern of change in the vertical velocity of a projectile is symmetrical about the apex.
gravity
Vertical velocity decreases as the ball rises and increases as the ball falls due to the influence of gravitational force.
Calculation of Displacement
Calculation of Magnitude: P2
Resultant displacement (dR) = = = 0.63 m
P1
Calculation of Direction:
Resultant displacement (dR) Vertical displacement (dV) = 0.2 m
Angle to horizontal () Tan = Opposite / Adjacent Tan = dV / dH = 0.2 / 0.6 = Tan-1 (0.2 / 0.6) = 18.8
vR = 3.2 ms-1 = 23
Summary
Variables used to describe motion are either:
Scalar (magnitude only: e.g. time, distance and speed) Vector (magnitude and direction: e.g. displacement, velocity and acceleration)
Displacement is the change in position of a body Average velocity is the change in position divided by the change in time