Projectile Motion and Quadratics

Front

What is projectile motion?

Back

Projectile motion is the motion of an object that is thrown into the air and is subject to the force of gravity. It follows a curved path called a trajectory.

Front

What are the key components of projectile motion?

Back

The key components include initial velocity, angle of projection, maximum height, time of flight, and range.

Front

What is the formula for the height of a projectile?

Back

The height h of a projectile can be modeled by the equation h = -16t² + v₀t + h₀, where v₀ is the initial velocity and h₀ is the initial height.

Front

What does the vertex of a parabola represent in projectile motion?

Back

The vertex represents the maximum height of the projectile.

Front

How do you find the time of flight for a projectile?

Back

The time of flight can be found by determining when the projectile returns to the initial height (y=0) using the quadratic equation.

Front

What is the significance of the x-intercepts in a projectile motion graph?

Back

The x-intercepts represent the times when the projectile is at ground level (height = 0).

Front

How do you determine the maximum height from a quadratic equation?

Back

The maximum height can be found by calculating the vertex of the parabola, using the formula t = -b/(2a) for the time at which it occurs.

Front

What is the range of a projectile?

Back

The range is the horizontal distance traveled by the projectile before it hits the ground.

Front

What factors affect the range of a projectile?

Back

Factors include the initial velocity, angle of projection, and height of launch.

Front

What is the effect of air resistance on projectile motion?

Back

Air resistance decreases the range and maximum height of a projectile compared to ideal conditions.