Analyzing Projectile Motion

"Flying Cat"

To better understand projectile motion, we can analyze its vertical and horizontal components separately. The main motion equations we can use to do this are V=V0 + at, X=X0 + V0t + 1/2at^2, and V^2=V^20 + 2a(X-X0). Each of these equations can be used in respect to either X or Y values. For example, the first equation can be used to find the Y component (vertical component) of a projectile motion: Vy= Vy0 + ayt. *Also, in such a case, ay would actually be the acceleration due to gravity, or -9.81 m/s^2.

Projectile Motion

The water being shot up by these fountains is an example of projectile motion.

Projectile motion is defined as the parabolic path taken by an object after it has been thrown. Because such an object is not self-propelled and air resistance can usually be neglected, the acceleration of the object is that of gravity and is assumed to be constant. Since gravity is pulling the object down during its motion, which is defined as being up, gravity is defined as being negative (-9.81 m/s^2). Given the object's initial velocity and the angle at which it was thrown, several different aspects of its motion can be calculated.