Projectile motion refers to the motion of an object that is launched into the air and moves along a curved path due to the influence of gravity. This type of motion is commonly seen in objects such as a ball being thrown or a rocket being launched.
The factors that affect projectile motion include the initial velocity, angle of launch, air resistance, and the mass of the object. The initial velocity and angle of launch determine the direction and speed of the object, while air resistance and mass can affect the distance and time of flight.
The formula for calculating projectile motion is: x = v0 * t * cosθ and y = v0 * t * sinθ - 1/2 * g * t2, where v0 is the initial velocity, θ is the angle of launch, t is the time, and g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s2).
The mass of the projectile does not affect its motion in terms of acceleration due to gravity. However, a heavier object will require more force to be launched at the same speed as a lighter object. This means that a heavier object will have a longer time of flight and a shorter horizontal distance compared to a lighter object with the same initial velocity and angle of launch.
The maximum height reached by a projectile is determined by the initial velocity, angle of launch, and acceleration due to gravity. The maximum height can be calculated using the formula: h = (v0 * sinθ)2 / (2 * g). This means that the higher the initial velocity and the smaller the angle of launch, the higher the maximum height will be. However, air resistance and other external factors may also affect the maximum height reached.