Final answer:
The three main principles of projectile motion are the independence of horizontal and vertical motions, the ability to determine the position and velocity of a projectile at various points, and the application of the independence principle to solve motion problems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three main principles of projectile motion are as follows:
- Independence of horizontal and vertical motions: The horizontal motion of a projectile is independent of its vertical motion. This means that the velocity in the horizontal direction does not affect the velocity in the vertical direction and vice versa. When a cannonball is launched horizontally in projectile motion, the rate at which it falls is the same as if it were in free fall.
- Determine the location and velocity of a projectile at different points in its trajectory: Using the kinematic equations for motion, one can find out the position and speed of the projectile at any given time during its flight.
- Apply the principle of independence of motion: This principle is used to solve problems involving projectile motion. It allows to separate the motion into horizontal and vertical components and analyze them independently.
To analyze a projectile motion problem, it is essential to recognize that gravity is the only force acting on the projectile in free fall, affecting the vertical component of the motion. The maximum height and range are also important properties of projectile motion. Maximum height refers to the highest vertical position reached by the projectile, while the range indicates how far it travels horizontally.