Projectile Motion Concepts

A quantity that has only magnitude (size). It's just a number, like your weight on a scale.

A quantity that has both magnitude (size) and direction. Imagine an arrow pointing in a specific direction.

Breaking a vector (like velocity) into two components that are perpendicular to each other, typically horizontal and vertical.

The path that a projectile follows through the air, shaped like a curve.

The component of the velocity that doesn't change as the projectile moves. It stays constant.

The component of the velocity that changes due to gravity's pull. It gets slower going up and faster coming down.

A projectile's motion where we ignore air resistance, making its path a symmetrical parabola.

A mathematical theorem that relates the sides of a right triangle: The square of the hypotenuse (longest side) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.

The constant acceleration due to gravity, pulling all objects downwards towards the Earth. Its value is approximately -9.81 m/s².

The path a projectile takes through the air, shaped like a curve due to the combination of horizontal motion and vertical acceleration from gravity.

The horizontal component of a projectile's velocity remains constant throughout its flight because there is no horizontal force acting on it.

The vertical component of a projectile's velocity changes due to gravity's constant downward acceleration. It slows down as the projectile goes up and speeds up as it comes down.

The time it takes for a projectile to complete its entire flight, from launch to landing. It depends on factors like initial vertical velocity and height.

The distance a projectile travels horizontally from its launch point to its landing point. It depends on horizontal velocity and time of flight.

The initial velocity of a projectile, which can be broken down into horizontal and vertical components. It determines the projectile's initial direction and speed.

The maximum height that a projectile reaches during its flight. It depends on the projectile's initial vertical velocity and the strength of gravity.

The velocity of an object at a specific moment in time, considering both its speed and direction.

The rate of change of velocity over time. A positive acceleration means the object is speeding up, while a negative acceleration means it's slowing down.

A quantity that has both magnitude (size) and direction.

The horizontal component of the velocity of a projectile remains constant throughout its motion if air resistance is negligible. This means the projectile travels at a steady speed in the horizontal direction.

The vertical component of the velocity of a projectile changes due to the influence of gravity. It slows down as it goes up and speeds up as it comes down.

The overall velocity of a projectile at the moment it impacts the ground. It's calculated by combining the horizontal and vertical velocity components.