Confusion regarding 2 dimension motion

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concepts of projectile motion in two dimensions, specifically focusing on the horizontal and vertical components of motion, their velocities, and the effects of gravity. Participants explore the mathematical expressions related to these components and the implications of the initial angle of projection.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that projectile motion consists of horizontal motion with constant velocity and vertical motion with constant acceleration due to gravity.
  • Others challenge the accuracy of the statement regarding vertical motion, emphasizing that the vertical velocity decreases under gravity until it reaches zero before the projectile falls back.
  • One participant presents a mathematical expression for vertical motion as vsinΘ + 0.5gt², while questioning the treatment of horizontal motion as vcosΘ without gravity's influence.
  • Another participant notes that the angle θ is crucial as it determines the initial vertical and horizontal velocities, suggesting that θ may change over time as the projectile moves.
  • Some participants agree that the expression for vertical motion includes the initial angle and that gravity affects vertical velocity but not horizontal velocity.
  • A later reply emphasizes the distinction between initial speed and direction at time t = 0 and the speed and direction at a later time, providing mathematical formulations for both components.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the treatment of vertical motion and the effects of gravity, indicating that there is no consensus on some aspects of the discussion. The mathematical expressions and their interpretations also remain contested.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations include potential misunderstandings regarding the effects of gravity on vertical and horizontal components, as well as the dependence on the definitions of initial velocity and angle.

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Projectile motion consist of horizontal and vertical motion.
The horizontal motion consists only of constant velocity, that is, the velocity of the object
The vertical motion consists only of constant acceleration, that is, acceleration due to gravity.

Yet...

we have vx = vcos
and
vy = vsinΘ

can someone the concept?
 
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Yes, your statement "The vertical motion consists only of constant acceleration" is not accurate.

If a projectile is fired at an angle to the horizon, the initial vertical velocity Vy = V * sin (theta)

During flight, the Vy component of projectile velocity decreases under the action of gravity until Vy = 0, at which point the projectile begins to fall back to earth.
 
So vertical motion has vertical velocity expressed mathematically as vsinΘ+0.5gt^2
whereas
horizontal motion has velocity expressed as vcosΘ with no acceleration due to gravity?
 
The angle θ relates to the initial velocity. After that the projectile will be moving at a different angle.

So, in these problems, θ is the initial angle that determines the initial vertical and horizontal velocity.

If you want to, you could look at the angle θ(t) as this changes with time as the projectile moves. This would depend on the initial θ = θ(0), the initial angle of the projectile.

The important point is that θ is the initial angle.
 
Regardless of the change of θ, the equation vsinΘ+0.5gt^2 is correct expression for vertical component of motion. Here θ is initial angle.
 
Gravity acts toward the center of mass of the attracting body. This is why the vertical velocity is affected by gravity, but not the horizontal velocity.
 
It's important to distinguish the initial speed and direction (angle) at t = 0 from the speed and direction at a later time t. We often do this by writing the initial values as v0 and θ0.

At time t the velocity components are

$$v_x = v_0 \cos \theta_0 \\
v_y = v_0 \sin \theta_0 - \frac{1}{2}gt^2$$

whereas the speed and direction are

$$v = \sqrt{v_x^2 + v_y^2} = \sqrt{(v_0 \cos \theta_0)^2 + \left(v_0 \sin \theta_0 - \frac{1}{2}gt^2\right)^2}\\
\theta = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{v_y}{v_x}\right) = \tan^{-1}\left( \frac {v_0 \sin \theta_0 - \frac{1}{2}gt^2} {v_0 \cos \theta_0}\right)$$
 

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