Projectile Motion, Introduction to Projectile Motion

MOTION OF A PROJECTILE

When a particle is thrown into space in any position at an angle with respect to horizontal or vertical direction. Its subsequent motion is subjected to only gravitational forces.

A Projectile travels both in horizontal and vertical directions and traces curvilinear path which is parabolic. The necessary conditions for a body to be called a projectile are:

1) It should be given some initial velocity.
2) It should move under the action of gravity alone, there should not be any other driving force.

IMPORTANT TERMS:

Angle of Projection:  Angle at which particle is thrown with respect to horizontal.
Horizontal Range: The horizontal distance covered by particle during its motion.
Time of Flight: The time interval of particle when it remains in motion.
Height of Projectile: The maximum height reached by projectile from reference line is called Height of Projectile.