Projectile Motion Basics
This page introduces fundamental concepts of projectile motion in A-Level Physics.
The key principle is that the horizontal and vertical components of motion can be analyzed separately. For a projectile launched at an angle, the vertical motion is affected by gravity while the horizontal motion remains constant.
Definition: Projectile motion is the curved path of an object launched or thrown near the Earth's surface, moving solely under the influence of gravity.
The page demonstrates how to break down the motion into vertical and horizontal components using trigonometry. It then applies SUVAT equations to calculate various parameters like time of flight, maximum height, and range.
Example: A ball launched at 35 m/s at a 20° angle is analyzed. The vertical motion uses equations like s = ut + 1/2 at^2 to find the time of flight 2.02s. The horizontal distance is then calculated as D = 2.02 x 35 cos20° = 70.71 m.
Highlight: The time taken for the vertical motion upanddown equals the time for horizontal motion, a key concept in projectile motion problems.
The page concludes by calculating the final velocity vector 40.2m/sat29.5°belowhorizontal using Pythagoras' theorem and trigonometry.