Which of the following exhibits parabolic motion?
a. a stone thrown into a lake
b. a space shuttle orbiting Earth
c. a leaf falling from a tree
d. a train moving along a flat track
what is parabolic motion? which would be a good choice?
thanks alot for ur help
Parabolic motion is motion that follows a y=ax^2 type curve. All objects thrown on Earth show that motion.
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Parabolic motion refers to the motion of an object that follows a parabolic trajectory, which is a curved path in the shape of a parabola. This type of motion occurs when an object is influenced by gravity and moves freely in the absence of other forces.
Now, let's analyze the options and determine which exhibit parabolic motion:
a. A stone thrown into a lake: When a stone is thrown into a lake, it follows a curved trajectory due to the force of gravity. The stone's motion will resemble a parabolic path, making this option a good choice for parabolic motion.
b. A space shuttle orbiting Earth: While a space shuttle follows a curved path around the Earth, its trajectory is not exactly parabolic. The motion of a space shuttle is usually elliptical rather than strictly parabolic because it is influenced by both gravity and the spaceship's velocity.
c. A leaf falling from a tree: Similar to the stone thrown into the lake, when a leaf falls from a tree, it is affected by gravity and follows a parabolic path due to the downward force acting on it.
d. A train moving along a flat track: A train moving along a flat track typically moves in a straight line, so it does not exhibit parabolic motion.
Therefore, options (a) and (c) - a stone thrown into a lake and a leaf falling from a tree - are the ones that exhibit parabolic motion.