Complete the passage to describe projectile motion, using “horizontal” or “vertical.” When an object is thrown, the thrower pushes the object. This causes the object to move in a motion. Inertia keeps the ball moving horizontally. The force of gravity acts on the object, causing motion. These two motions cause the motion of the object to curve downward.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
When an object is thrown, the thrower pushes the object. This causes the object to move in a horizontal motion. Inertia keeps the ball moving horizontally. The force of gravity acts on the object, causing vertical motion. These two motions cause the motion of the object to curve downward.
Explanation:
Projectile motion refers to the motion of an object that is projected into the air under the influence of gravity. It involves two distinct types of motion: horizontal motion and vertical motion.
- Horizontal Motion:
When the object is thrown, it initially moves horizontally due to the force applied by the thrower. This motion occurs at a constant velocity, as long as no external forces, like air resistance, slow the object down. According to Newton’s First Law of Motion, the object will continue to move horizontally with a constant velocity due to inertia, unless acted upon by an external force. - Vertical Motion:
The second part of projectile motion is the vertical motion caused by gravity. As soon as the object leaves the thrower’s hand, gravity begins to act on it, pulling it downward. This downward force causes the object to accelerate towards the Earth at approximately 9.8 m/s² (on Earth). This is in contrast to the horizontal motion, which remains constant unless other forces act on it. As the object travels through the air, the vertical component of its motion causes it to accelerate downward, leading to the curved path that is characteristic of projectile motion.
These two motions, horizontal and vertical, work together to create the curved trajectory seen in projectile motion. The horizontal motion doesn’t change because of gravity, but the vertical motion accelerates due to gravity. This combination results in the characteristic parabolic path of a projectile.