Projectile Motion Practice Questions(MCQ’s) and Explanations

Projectile motion is the motion of an object that is thrown or launched into the air and moves along a curved path under the influence of gravity.

It is a type of motion in two dimensions and is characterized by its horizontal and vertical components.

Vertical component of velocity changes due to the acceleration of gravity, which is constant and acts downward on the projectile.

As a result, the vertical component of velocity decreases until it reaches zero at the highest point of the trajectory and then increases in the opposite direction until it reaches the initial velocity at the end of the trajectory.

Horizontal component of velocity remains constant during the entire flight of a projectile, as there is no force acting in the horizontal direction to change its magnitude or direction.

This means that the projectile moves with a constant horizontal speed, which is independent of its vertical motion.

Path of a projectile is a parabolic curve, which is a result of its motion in two dimensions under the influence of gravity.

Horizontal component of motion is uniform, while the vertical component of motion is accelerated due to the force of gravity acting in the vertical direction.

As a result, the projectile follows a curved path, which is a parabolic curve.

Maximum height reached by a projectile is the highest point of the trajectory, where the vertical component of velocity is zero.

At this point, the projectile stops moving upward and begins to fall downward due to the force of gravity.

Maximum height reached by the projectile depends on the initial velocity and angle of projection.

Range of a projectile is the horizontal distance between launch point and landing point, which is determined by the initial velocity and angle of projection.

Horizontal component of velocity remains constant during the entire flight of the projectile, and the range depends on the time of flight and the horizontal velocity of the projectile.

Time of flight of a projectile is the time it takes for the projectile to return to its initial height, which is equal to twice the time it takes for the projectile to reach its maximum height.

Time of flight is determined by the initial velocity and angle of projection, and it is independent of the mass of the projectile.

Angle of projection for maximum range of a projectile is 45 degrees. However, when air resistance is neglected, the maximum range is achieved when the angle of projection is 90 degrees, which corresponds to a vertical projection.

In this case, Horizontal component of velocity remains constant, and projectile travels maximum distance horizontally before returning to the ground.

The angle of projection for maximum height of a projectile is 45 degrees.

Angle results in the maximum height of the projectile because it allows for the largest vertical component of velocity, which is necessary to overcome the acceleration due to gravity and reach the maximum height.

At this angle, the horizontal component of velocity is also sufficient to ensure a long flight time, allowing the projectile to reach a greater height.

The time of flight of a projectile is direct proportional to the vertical component of velocity.

As the angle of projection is increased, the vertical component of velocity decreases, resulting in a lower maximum height. This is because the projectile spends less time in the air and has a lower upward velocity component, so it doesn’t reach the same height as it would at a lower angle of projection with a larger upward velocity component.

The formula for the range of a projectile is R = v₀² sin(2θ) / g, where R is the range, v₀ is the initial velocity, θ is the angle of projection, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. This formula assumes that air resistance is negligible.

Formula for the maximum height of a projectile is h = v₀² sin²(θ) / 2g, where h is the maximum height, v₀ is the initial velocity, θ is the angle of projection, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

This formula assumes that air resistance is negligible.

The range of a projectile is proportional to the product of the initial velocity and the time of flight.

Doubling the initial velocity will therefore result in a doubling.

At the highest point of its trajectory, the vertical velocity of the projectile is zero, and the only force acting on the projectile is gravity.

Therefore, the acceleration of the projectile at the highest point is equal to the acceleration due to gravity, which is -9.81 m/s² (assuming no air resistance).

The horizontal component of a projectile’s velocity is the component of velocity parallel to the ground. This velocity remains constant throughout the projectile’s motion since there is no horizontal acceleration in projectile motion (assuming no air resistance).

Projectile motion is the motion of an object in two dimensions (x and y) due to the influence of gravity.

Object is typically thrown or launched at an angle to the horizontal and follows a parabolic path.

At the highest point of its trajectory, the vertical velocity of the projectile is zero. This is because the projectile has reached its maximum height and is about to start falling back down due to gravity.

Vertical velocity of the projectile changes sign at the highest point of its trajectory, going from positive (upward) to negative (downward).

Vertical displacement of a projectile as a function of time is given by the equation d = V₀sinθt – 1/2gt², where V₀ is the initial velocity of projectile, g is acceleration due to gravity, t is the time elapsed, and Negative sign indicates that acceleration is in downward direction.

Range of a projectile is given by the equation R = V₀²sin2θ/g.

When the launch angle is increased from 30 degrees to 60 degrees, the value of sin2θ also increases by the same factor, but gravitational acceleration g remains constant.

Therefore, the range stays the same.

The time of flight of a projectile is given by the equation t = 2V₀sinθ/g. When the initial velocity is doubled, the value of V₀ also doubles.

So, the time of flight increases by a factor of 2.

Maximum height reached by a projectile is given by the equation h = V₀²sin²θ/2g.

When the initial velocity is doubled, the value of V₀ also doubles, so the maximum height reached increases by a factor of 4 (quadruples).

h’= 4h

Maximum height reached by a projectile is given by the equation h = V₀²sin²θ/2g.

When the launch angle is increased from 30 degrees to 45 degrees, the value of sin²θ increases by same factor that the value of sinθ increases.

Time of flight of a projectile is given by the equation t = 2V₀sinθ/g, where V₀ is the initial velocity of the projectile, θ is the launch angle, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

This equation assumes no air resistance and a level launch surface.

Formula for the maximum height of a projectile is h = v₀² sin²(θ) / 2g, where h is the maximum height, v₀ is the initial velocity, θ is the angle of projection, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

And if projecting from specified height h₀, then the intial height will be added. So, h₀ + u₀² sin²(θ) / 2g