MEPX
Chapter 9 of 10All chapters
  1. 1Describing motion
  2. 2The laws of motion
  3. 3Free body diagrams
  4. 4Friction and normal forces
  5. 5Equilibrium and torque
  6. 6Work and energy
  7. 7Momentum and collisions
  8. 8Circular motion
  9. 9Projectiles
  10. 10Solving problems

Chapter 9 of 10

Projectiles

Two independent motions.

Splitting it up

Horizontal and vertical motion are independent. Horizontally the velocity is constant; vertically it accelerates downward at about 9.8 metres per second squared.

  • A ball dropped and a ball fired horizontally hit the ground at the same time.
  • Ignoring air resistance is a simplification that fails for light or fast objects.

Range

Without air resistance, 45 degrees gives maximum range. With it, the best angle is lower, which is why real throwing and shooting angles differ from the textbook.