📚 Topic Summary
Projectile motion describes the motion of an object thrown or launched into the air, subject only to gravity's acceleration. Understanding projectile motion involves analyzing the object's horizontal and vertical components of velocity and displacement independently. Key concepts include initial velocity, launch angle, time of flight, maximum height, and range. By applying kinematic equations, we can predict and analyze the trajectory of projectiles.
This worksheet provides opportunities to practice applying these concepts to solve problems involving various scenarios. Remember to consider the effect of gravity ($g = 9.8 m/s^2$) on the vertical motion, while the horizontal motion remains constant (assuming negligible air resistance).
🧠 Part A: Vocabulary
Match each term with its definition:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Trajectory |
A. The angle at which an object is launched. |
| 2. Initial Velocity |
B. The path followed by a projectile. |
| 3. Launch Angle |
C. The velocity of an object at the start of its motion. |
| 4. Range |
D. The maximum vertical displacement of a projectile. |
| 5. Maximum Height |
E. The horizontal distance traveled by a projectile. |
✍️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph using the words provided: gravity, horizontal, vertical, projectile, constant.
A __________ is any object thrown into the air. Its motion is affected by __________ which causes a downward acceleration. The __________ component of its velocity remains __________ (assuming no air resistance), while the __________ component changes due to gravity.
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Explain how increasing the launch angle (from 0 to 90 degrees) affects the range and maximum height of a projectile. What angle will give the maximum range?