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7: Projectiles

  • Page ID
    6973
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    • 7.1: No Air Resistance
      This page covers the projectile motion of a particle launched at an angle, examining initial velocity components, gravity's effect on vertical motion, and the parabolic trajectory described by parametric equations. It highlights the vertex, maximum height, and range, including formulas for inclined planes and a parabolic safety envelope. The page also provides exercises to enhance understanding of these concepts.
    • 7.2: Air Resistance Proportional to the Speed
      This page covers the equations of motion for an object affected by air resistance, focusing on horizontal and vertical components. It explains how the damping constant \(\gamma\) impacts velocity and position, and details the calculation of initial velocities based on launch angles. Key equations are presented, along with examples of calculating range while considering air resistance.
    • 7.3: Air Resistance Proportional to the Square of the Speed
      This page addresses the dynamics of projectile motion affected by resistive forces, specifically aerodynamic drag. It breaks down velocity into horizontal and vertical components and presents key equations to describe motion, incorporating parameters like drag coefficient, launch angle, and gravitational acceleration. The discussion includes numerical and analytical methods for computation, leading to specific results on maximum height and flight duration.

    Thumbnail: A photo of a Smith & Wesson firing, taken with an air-gap flash. The photo was taken in a darkened room, with camera's shutter open and the flash was triggered by the sound of the shot using a microphone. (CC BY-SA 3.0; Niels Noordhoek).


    This page titled 7: Projectiles is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jeremy Tatum via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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