Projectile motion is the motion of an object thrown or projected into the air, subject only to the acceleration of gravity. When we launch a projectile, it follows a curved path called a parabolic trajectory. The only force acting on the projectile is gravity, which pulls it downward.
To understand projectile motion better, we analyze it by separating the motion into two independent components. The horizontal component moves with constant velocity because there is no horizontal force acting on the projectile. The vertical component has constant acceleration downward due to gravity. These two motions are completely independent of each other.
Let's examine the horizontal motion component in detail. In the horizontal direction, no forces act on the projectile after it's launched, assuming we ignore air resistance. This means the horizontal velocity remains constant throughout the flight. The projectile travels equal horizontal distances in equal time intervals. The horizontal velocity is determined by the initial velocity and launch angle.
Now let's examine the vertical motion component. Unlike horizontal motion, the vertical motion is affected by gravity, which provides a constant downward acceleration of 9.8 meters per second squared. The vertical velocity starts positive, decreases due to gravity, becomes zero at the peak, then becomes negative as the projectile falls. The vertical position follows a parabolic path due to this constant acceleration.
In summary, projectile motion combines independent horizontal and vertical motions to create a parabolic trajectory. The horizontal motion maintains constant velocity while the vertical motion experiences constant acceleration due to gravity. This understanding is crucial in many applications including ballistics, sports analysis, engineering design, and space missions. The maximum range occurs at a 45-degree launch angle, and the flight path is always symmetric.