Projectile Motion
When a particle is projected obliquely near the earth’s surface, it moves in horizontal as well as vertical directions simultaneously. The motion of such a particle is known as the projectile motion.
Rectilinear motions involved in projectile motion are:
Two independent simultaneous motions are responsible for projectile motion.
- X-axis: uniform velocity is accountable for the horizontal motion of the particle (forward movement).
- Y-axis: uniform acceleration is accountable for the vertical motion of the particle (downward movement).
Projectile motion is categorised into:
- Horizontal motion
- Vertical motion
What Is Horizontal Motion?
Did you know the only force acting upon a projectile is gravity? Gravity proceeds to impact the vertical motion of the projectile generating a vertical acceleration.
A projectile’s horizontal motion is the result of the tendency of any object to persist the motion at a constant velocity. Since horizontal forces are absent, the projectile continues to be in motion at a constant horizontal velocity. Here, to keep a projectile moving horizontally, horizontal forces are not necessary. The horizontal motion of a projectile is independent of its vertical motion.
The motion of a projectile in a horizontal plane, which depends upon the force acting on it, is known as horizontal motion.
The horizontal component of the speed of a projectile is constant throughout the flight duration. Since after launching the projectile, no horizontal force acts on it. This is the reason the projectile travels horizontally at a constant speed. Let us know how to calculate the distance (x) covered by a projectile.
Distance = speed × Time
x = vt
Examples of Horizontal Motion
After learning the definition of horizontal motion, let us know some examples of horizontal motion.
- A boat travelling in a river.
- A bullet fired from a gun.
- Throwing a ball or a cannonball.
- Movement of a billiard ball on the billiard table.
- The motion of the planet Earth around the Sun.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Q1
What is horizontal motion?
The motion of a projectile in a horizontal plane, which depends upon the force acting on it, is known as horizontal motion.
Q2
What is the formula to calculate the distance covered by a projectile?
Distance = speed × Time
x = vt
Q3
What is the only force acting upon a projectile?
The only force acting upon a projectile is gravity.
Q4
State true or false: A bullet fired from a gun is an example of circular motion.
False. A bullet fired from a gun is an example of projectile motion.
Q5
How is projectile motion categorised?
Projectile motion is categorised into:
- Horizontal motion
- Vertical motion
