1) Using the cursor, determine the maximum height in meters of each projectile. Do these answers make sense or are |
they contradictory? Justify your answer. |
Both projectiles attain a maximum height of 28.2 m (approximate due to the cursor sensitivity). These |
answers should be in agreement because both projectiles are in a state of free fall. The initial vertical |
velocities are the same and they both accelerate vertically at -g. |
2) (a) What is the range of each projectile? |
The projectile fired vertically has a range of zero and the other a range of 41.2 m. |
(b) Does the range of each projectile agree or disagree with Newton's Law of Inertia? Justify your answer. |
The projectile fired vertically has an initial vertical velocity greater than zero and a vertical |
acceleration of -g. This projectile can be thought of in accordance with Newton's 2nd law explaining its |
vertical acceleration and in accordance with Newton's 1st law. When the net force equals zero, an |
object will maintain its present state of motion. |
Horizontally the projectile can not be accelerating because there is not net force acting horizontally. |
It moves horizontally at a constant velocity equal to its initial horizontal velocity. Because there is no |
air resistance, there is no net horizontal force. |
3) Is there any air resistance acting on either projectile? How do you know? |
There is no air resistance because the parabola is symmetrical (See Projectile Motion 1 Answers for more |
details). |
4) What is the average velocity for the projectile following a parabolic path? Explain your reasoning. |
vave = vH = a constant because horizontally there are equal displacements and vertically the net |
displacement is zero. |