Question

Select the Velocity Vectors in the vectors box and choose "Components" from the radio

buttons. Keeping rest of the settings on default, fire the projectile and observe how the
vectors change as the projectile falls to the ground.

Answer 1

The student's question involves a physics simulation that illustrates the components of velocity in projectile motion, separating them into horizontal and vertical components and demonstrating their change over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the simulation of projectile motion in the context of physics. Projectile motion is analyzed by breaking it down into its horizontal and vertical components, assuming negligible forces except for gravity. The motion in the horizontal direction is characterized by a constant velocity, because the horizontal acceleration (ax) is zero. In the vertical direction, the force of gravity causes the projectile to accelerate downwards. The velocity vectors are resolved using the equations vx = v cos θ for the horizontal component and vy = v sin θ for the vertical component, where 'v' is the magnitude of the velocity and 'θ' is the angle of projection.

Using a virtual lab or simulation software, one can observe how these velocity components change over time as the projectile moves through its trajectory. This provides a visual and practical understanding of the components of velocity and displacement in projectile motion.