Projectile Motion
Projectile Motion
Purpose: Apply the concepts of two-dimensional kinematics (projectile motion) to predict the impact point of an object as its velocity increases.
Introduction: The most common example of an object that is moving in two dimensions is a projectile. A projectile is an object upon which the only force acting is gravity. That is to say a projectile is any object that once projected or dropped continues in motion by its own, and is influenced only by the downward force of gravity. There are a number of examples of projectiles, such as an object dropped from rest, an object that is thrown vertically upward, and an object which is thrown upward at an angle to the horizontal is also a projectile. Since a projectile is an object that only has a single force acting on it, the free-body diagram of a projectile would show only a single force acting downwards; labeled force of gravity. Regardless of which direction a projectile is moving, the free-body diagram of the projectile is still as depicted in the diagram at the right.
In the case of projectiles, one can use information about the initial velocity and position of a projectile to predict such things as how much time the projectile is in the air and how far the projectile will go. For example, a projectile launched with an initial horizontal velocity from an elevated position will follow a parabolic path to the ground. Unknowns include the initial speed of the projectile, the initial height of the projectile, the time of flight, and the horizontal distance of the projectile. These can all be solved for by using the following equations: [pic] and [pic]. Where y is vertical distance, x is horizontal distance, t is time, a is acceleration, and v is velocity.
Question: What happens to an object’s impact point in two-dimensional kinematics when its speed increases?
Hypothesis: If the speed of an object increases in two-dimensional kinematics then its impact point will also
Purpose: Apply the concepts of two-dimensional kinematics (projectile motion) to predict the impact point of an object as its velocity increases.
Introduction: The most common example of an object that is moving in two dimensions is a projectile. A projectile is an object upon which the only force acting is gravity. That is to say a projectile is any object that once projected or dropped continues in motion by its own, and is influenced only by the downward force of gravity. There are a number of examples of projectiles, such as an object dropped from rest, an object that is thrown vertically upward, and an object which is thrown upward at an angle to the horizontal is also a projectile. Since a projectile is an object that only has a single force acting on it, the free-body diagram of a projectile would show only a single force acting downwards; labeled force of gravity. Regardless of which direction a projectile is moving, the free-body diagram of the projectile is still as depicted in the diagram at the right.
In the case of projectiles, one can use information about the initial velocity and position of a projectile to predict such things as how much time the projectile is in the air and how far the projectile will go. For example, a projectile launched with an initial horizontal velocity from an elevated position will follow a parabolic path to the ground. Unknowns include the initial speed of the projectile, the initial height of the projectile, the time of flight, and the horizontal distance of the projectile. These can all be solved for by using the following equations: [pic] and [pic]. Where y is vertical distance, x is horizontal distance, t is time, a is acceleration, and v is velocity.
Question: What happens to an object’s impact point in two-dimensional kinematics when its speed increases?
Hypothesis: If the speed of an object increases in two-dimensional kinematics then its impact point will also