The vertical acceleration of a projectile



A)equals g pointing sometimes upwards and other times downwards.
B)equals g pointing upwards
C)is zero.
D)equals g pointing downwards
E)continuously increases.

Thanks!

To determine the vertical acceleration of a projectile, we first need to understand the concept of a projectile. A projectile is an object that is launched into the air and moves under the influence of gravity, with no additional force acting on it horizontally. Examples of projectiles include a ball thrown into the air or a bullet fired from a gun.

In the vertical direction, the only force acting on a projectile is gravity. Gravity always acts downward towards the center of the Earth, which means the vertical acceleration of a projectile is always directed downwards. Therefore, the correct answer is option D) The vertical acceleration of a projectile equals g, pointing downwards.

In this context, "g" represents the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s²). This value is constant near the surface of the Earth and is always directed downwards. It represents the rate at which a freely falling object accelerates in the absence of any other external forces.

It is important to note that the horizontal velocity of a projectile remains constant (assuming no other forces are acting upon it), while the vertical velocity changes over time due to the influence of gravity.