Projectile motion refers to the motion of an object that is thrown or projected into the air, under the influence of gravity. It is a type of motion that combines both horizontal and vertical components, resulting in a curved path.
The factors that affect projectile motion include the initial velocity, the angle of projection, the mass of the object, the air resistance, and the force of gravity. These factors determine the trajectory and range of the projectile.
Projectile motion can be calculated using the equations of motion and the principles of trigonometry. The initial velocity, angle of projection, and other factors are used to determine the horizontal and vertical components of the projectile's motion, which can then be used to calculate its trajectory and range.
In projectile motion, the horizontal motion is constant and unaffected by gravity, while the vertical motion is influenced by gravity and changes over time. This results in a curved path for the projectile, with the horizontal and vertical components combining to form the overall trajectory.
Projectile motion is used in various real-life applications, such as sports (e.g. throwing a ball), military and defense (e.g. launching missiles), and engineering (e.g. designing bridges or projectiles). It is also a fundamental concept in physics and is used to understand the motion of objects in the natural world.