PROJECTILE MOTION ( SCIENCE 9)Projectile motion is the motion of an object that is launched or thrown into the air and moves under the influence of gravity alone, assuming that air resistance is negligible. It is a type of two-dimensional motion because the object moves both horizontally and vertically at the same time.
In projectile motion, the horizontal and vertical movements are independent of each other. The horizontal motion occurs at a constant velocity because there is no horizontal acceleration acting on the object. On the other hand, the vertical motion is affected by gravity, which causes the object to accelerate downward as it rises and falls.
As the object moves through the air, it follows a curved path called a parabola. At the highest point of its path, the vertical velocity becomes zero for a moment before the object begins to fall back down. The overall motion continues until the object reaches the ground.
Common examples of projectile motion include throwing a ball, kicking a soccer ball, or launching an object into the air. These examples clearly show how an object can move forward while simultaneously moving up and down due to gravity.