AQA A-Level Physics 7408
Measurements and Their Errors
Particles and Radiation
Waves
Mechanics and Materials
Electricity
Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics
Fields and Their Consequences
Nuclear Physics
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Medical PhysicsOptional topic
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Turning Points in PhysicsOptional topic
ElectronicsOptional topic
Mechanics and Materials
Projectile motion
- 4 things to know
- Papers 1 and 3
Overview
Treating horizontal and vertical motion separately, and the effect of friction, lift and drag.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
How is vertical motion described, and what are friction and lift?
What are terminal speed and drag, and how does air resistance change with speed?
What effect does air resistance have on the maximum height reached by a projectile?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
In projectile motion within a uniform gravitational field, what is the relationship between the horizontal and vertical components of motion?
Model answer
The horizontal and vertical components of motion are independent of each other.
- 2
Why does the horizontal component of velocity remain constant throughout projectile motion?
Model answer
In the absence of air resistance, there is no horizontal force acting on the projectile, so no horizontal acceleration occurs and the horizontal velocity stays constant.
- 3
What type of acceleration does the vertical component of projectile motion experience?
Model answer
Uniform acceleration due to gravity.
- 4
Which equation is used for the horizontal component of projectile motion, and why?
Model answer
s = vt, because horizontal velocity is constant (no acceleration).
- 5
Which suvat equations can be applied to the vertical component of projectile motion?
Model answer
v = u + at, s = ut + ½at², v² = u² + 2as, and s = ½(u + v)t, because vertical motion is uniformly accelerated.
- 6
State the equation used to calculate the horizontal displacement of a projectile.
Model answer
x = vₓt, where vₓ is the horizontal component of velocity and t is time.
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