Parabolic Motion and Projectile Equations

This page provides a comprehensive overview of parabolic motion and the equations governing projectile motion. It covers both the horizontal and vertical components of motion, as well as an example problem to illustrate the concepts.

The page begins by presenting the general equations for projectile motion:

Definition: Parabolic motion equations:

• x = x₀ + v₀ₓt + ½aₓt² (horizontal axis)
• y = y₀ + v₀ᵧt + ½aᵧt² (vertical axis)

These equations describe the position of a projectile at any given time, considering initial position, initial velocity, and acceleration in both x and y directions.

The page then breaks down the motion into its horizontal and vertical components:

1. Horizontal motion (x-axis):

   • Characterized by uniform motion
   • No forces act along this axis (according to Newton's second law)
   • Equation: x = x₀ + v₀ₓt

2. Vertical motion (y-axis):

   • Affected by gravity
   • Uniformly accelerated motion
   • Equations:
     • y = y₀ + v₀ᵧt - ½gt²
     • vᵧ = v₀ᵧ - gt

Highlight: The horizontal component of motion is uniform (constant velocity), while the vertical component is uniformly accelerated due to gravity.

An example problem is presented to demonstrate the application of these concepts:

Example:

• Initial velocity (v₀) = 20 m/s
• Launch angle (θ) = 30°
• Initial height (y₀) = 10 m

The problem is solved by breaking down the initial velocity into its x and y components:

• v₀ₓ = v₀ cos(30°) = 17.3 m/s
• v₀ᵧ = v₀ sin(30°) = 10 m/s

The equations for the projectile's motion are then given:

• x = 17.3t (horizontal position)
• y = 10 + 10t - 4.9t² (vertical position)
• vᵧ = 10 - 9.81t (vertical velocity)

Vocabulary:

• Moto rettilineo uniforme: Uniform rectilinear motion (constant velocity)
• Moto rettilineo uniformemente accelerato: Uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion

This comprehensive breakdown of parabolic motion provides students with a solid foundation for solving esercizi sul moto parabolico (exercises on parabolic motion) and understanding the principles behind projectile trajectories.