Projectile Motion and Fluid Mechanics

What Projectile Motion and Fluid Mechanics covers

Projectile Motion and Fluid Mechanics is examined in A2 Unit 3, Evaluating physical education. It covers factors affecting the flight of a projectile, lift forces and the Bernoulli principle, spin and the Magnus effect and drag, streamlining and laminar flow.

The 4 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Factors affecting the flight of a projectileProjectiles and gravity, weight, velocity, height and angle of release, the shot put below 45°, air resistance, parabolic flight, Newton's laws and the shuttlecock.Open →
• Lift forces and the Bernoulli principleLift force and the Bernoulli principle, the discus and angle of attack, downward lift on a Formula 1 car and its drawback, spinning objects, the boundary layer and lift at speed.Open →
• Spin and the Magnus effectThe Magnus force, how spin is created, the flight and bounce of topspin, backspin and sidespin, sidespin in football, tennis topspin and golf backspin, and reading spin to receive a ball.Open →
• Drag, streamlining and laminar flowFluid friction, drag and air resistance and their factors, laminar and turbulent flow, streamlining, the track cyclist and swimmer, developments in cycling, drag in water and riding behind another cyclist.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Projectile Motion and Fluid Mechanics further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Topspin vs Backspin

  Topspin: forward rotation producing a downward force, so the ball dips and kicks on. Backspin: reverse rotation producing an upward force, so the ball floats and checks.

• Laminar flow vs Turbulent flow

  Laminar flow: smooth, layered fluid movement around a body. Turbulent flow: irregular, swirling fluid movement behind a body.

• Upward lift vs Downward lift

  Upward lift: a pressure force pushing a body up, as on a discus. Downward lift: a pressure force pushing a body down, as on a racing car.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is a projectile?

   Model answer

   A projectile is a body launched into the air that is then subject only to weight and air resistance. A shot, javelin and ball are examples.

2. 2

   What is the effect of gravity on a projectile?

   Model answer

   Gravity pulls the projectile towards the ground. Weight acts downwards throughout the flight.

3. 3

   How is weight calculated?

   Model answer

   Weight is mass multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity. A 75 kg athlete weighs 75 × 9.8 = 735 N.

4. 4

   How does velocity of release affect a projectile's flight?

   Model answer

   A greater release velocity carries the projectile further. Velocity of release is the most important factor.

5. 5

   How does height of release affect a projectile's flight?

   Model answer

   A greater release height gives the projectile longer in the air. The projectile travels further horizontally.

6. 6

   How does angle of release affect a projectile's flight?

   Model answer

   The best angle is 45° when release and landing heights are equal. A lower angle is best when release is above landing height.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Projectile Motion and Fluid Mechanics revision questions

What does Projectile Motion and Fluid Mechanics cover in WJEC A-Level Physical Education?

4 subtopics: factors affecting the flight of a projectile, lift forces and the bernoulli principle, spin and the magnus effect and drag, streamlining and laminar flow. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Projectile Motion and Fluid Mechanics organised?

By the WJEC 601-8485-1 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.