What is a projectile?
An object propelled through the air, especially one thrown as a weapon.
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A projectile is any object that is launched into the air and moves under the influence of gravity and air resistance. It follows a curved trajectory known as a projectile motion. Projectiles can be either thrown or fired, and they include objects like balls, bullets, rockets, and even water droplets.
To understand the concept of a projectile, it helps to have a basic understanding of physics. In particular, the laws of motion and the force of gravity come into play. The key elements of a projectile motion are its initial velocity, launch angle, and the force of gravity acting on it.
To calculate the trajectory of a projectile, you can use the following equations:
1. Horizontal motion: The horizontal distance covered by a projectile can be calculated using the equation:
š„ = š£āš”ššš (š)
Where:
- š„ is the horizontal distance traveled by the projectile.
- š£ā is the initial velocity of the projectile.
- š is the launch angle.
- š” is the time taken for the projectile to reach its maximum height.
2. Vertical motion: The height, maximum height, and time of flight of a projectile can be calculated using the equations:
š¦ = š£āš”š šš(š) ā 0.5šš”Ā²
š¦āšš„ = (š£āĀ² * š ššĀ²(š)) / (2š)
š” = (2š£ā * š šš(š)) / š
Where:
- š¦ is the vertical displacement or height at a given time.
- š£ā is the initial velocity of the projectile.
- š is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/sĀ²).
- š” is the time taken for the projectile to reach the ground.
- š¦āšš„ is the maximum height reached by the projectile.
By using the above equations, you can determine various characteristics of a projectile's motion, such as its range, maximum height, time of flight, and impact velocity.