PROJECTILE MOTION
PROJECTILE
• A projectile is an object upon which the only force is gravity.
• Gravity, being a downward force, causes a projectile to accelerate in the downward direction.
• The force of gravity could never alter the horizontal velocity of an object .A vertical force does not effect a horizontal motion.
COMPONENTS OF A VECTOR
• These two parts of the two-dimensional vector are referred to as components.
• A component describes the effect of a single vector in a given direction. Any force vector that is exerted at an angle to the horizontal can be considered as having two parts or components.
• The vector sum of these two components is always equal to the force at the given angle. This is depicted in the diagram below.
ASinA
ACosA
y
x
COMPONENTS OF VECTORS
xA
Ax
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/vectors/u3l2a.cfm
Horizontally Launched ProjectilesImagine a cannonball being launched from a cannon atop a very high cliff. What will be the path of the cannonball and how can the motion of the cannonball be described?
PROJECTILE MOTION