The range of a cannonball fired horizontally from a cliff is equal to the height of the cliff. What is the direction of the velocity vector of the projectile as it strikes the ground? (Ignore any effects due to air resistance.)

° (below the horizontal)

To determine the direction of the velocity vector of the projectile as it strikes the ground, we need to understand the motion of the cannonball.

The given scenario involves a cannonball being fired horizontally from a cliff. Since there is no initial vertical velocity, the only force acting on the cannonball is gravity, causing it to fall vertically downwards.

Now, we know that the range of the cannonball is equal to the height of the cliff. The range is the horizontal distance traveled by the cannonball before hitting the ground. In this case, since the range is equal to the height of the cliff, it means that the cannonball is hitting the ground at a point directly below the cliff.

Considering that the cannonball falls vertically downwards and lands directly below the cliff, the velocity vector of the projectile as it strikes the ground will be perpendicular to the ground. Thus, the direction of the velocity vector will be straight downward, which is 90 degrees below the horizontal.

Therefore, the direction of the velocity vector of the projectile as it strikes the ground is 90 degrees below the horizontal.