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Is a projectile motion graph a straight graph or a curved graph


User Chi Dov
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2 Answers

11 votes

Answer:

» Projectile motion is a curved graph.

☑ This is because projectile motion consists of both vertical and horizontal motion, with one starting angle. Hence as the body starts motion, it is acted upon by gravity.

At point v = 0, the motion is free from gravity hence approaching horizontal motion.

Examples;

  • A ball kicked upwards at an angle which is not 90°
  • A man playing golf.
  • A plane dropping a bomb.
Is a projectile motion graph a straight graph or a curved graph ​-example-1
User Ihsan
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3.7k points
10 votes

Hi there!

Curved graph.

For an object undergoing projectile motion, the HORIZONTAL component of its remains constant (assuming no air resistance), while the VERTICAL component is changing due to a constant acceleration due to gravity.

We can relate vertical displacement vs. time to this acceleration using the kinematic equation:


d_y= v_(y0)t + (1)/(2)at^2

dy = displacement (m)

vy₀ = initial vertical velocity (m/s)

t = time (s)

a = acceleration due to gravity (m/s²)

This is an example of a QUADRATIC equation, which means the trajectory of a projectile would form a parabolic shape.

Thus, it would be a curved graph.

User Fabian Hueske
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3.6k points