Question

For a projectile launched horizontally, which of the following best describes the downward component of a projectile's velocity? Assume air resistance is negligible.A. The downward component of the projectile's velocity is zero.B. The downward component of the projectile's velocity remains a nonzero constant.C. The downward component of the projectile's velocity continually increases.D. The downward component of the projectile's velocity continually decreases.E. The downward component of the projectile's velocity initially decreases and then increases.

Answer 1

C. The downward component of the projectile's velocity continually increases

Explanation:

The motion of a projectile consists of two independent motions:  

- A uniform motion (with constant velocity) along the horizontal direction  

- A uniformly accelerated motion, with constant acceleration (equal to the acceleration of gravity) in the downward direction  

Here we want to study the downward component of the projectile's velocity. Since the vertical motion is a uniformly accelerated motion, the vertical velocity is given by:

$v=u+at$

where

u = 0 is the initial vertical velocity (zero since the projectile is fired horizontally)

$a=g=9.8 m/s^2$ downward is the acceleration of gravity

t is the time

So the equation becomes

$v=gt$

This means that

C. The downward component of the projectile's velocity continually increases

Because every second, it increases by $9.8 m/s$ in the downward direction.

Learn more about projectile motion:

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