Projectile motion is part of the HSC Physics Syllabus Module 5: Advanced Mechanics.
It is broken up into two forms of motion. These forms of motion are in the x (left and right) and y (up and down) direction.
Linear kinematics
Before we get into the syllabus, check out the video below for a quick refresher on linear equations!
Horizontal and vertical components
Let’s analyse the motion of projectiles by resolving the motion into horizontal and vertical components.
Projectile motion is the motion of an object that is projected into the air and then moves under the influence of gravity alone. In HSC Physics, projectile motion is often studied in the context of objects thrown or launched at an angle to the horizontal, such as a football being kicked, a cannonball being fired, or a javelin being thrown.
Projectile Motion equations
Now let’s derive the equations for this.
Projectile motion can be analysed using kinematic equations, which describe the motion of the object in terms of its initial velocity, acceleration due to gravity, and time of flight. The path of the object is typically parabolic, with the maximum height reached at the apex of the path.
In order to predict the range and height of the projectile, it is necessary to understand the relationship between the initial velocity and the angle at which the object is launched. The range of the projectile is maximised when the object is launched at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal.
Projectile motion is an important concept in physics, as it has practical applications in fields such as ballistics, sports, and engineering.
