Projectile
A projectile is an object launched or thrown through the air. Its trajectory is determined by its initial velocity and the forces acting on it.
Projectile motion: The motion of an object moving through space under the influence of applied forces, often modeled with gravity alone. It describes how a projectile’s horizontal and vertical motion combine into a trajectory.
Classical mechanics: The branch of physics describing motion and forces for macroscopic objects at speeds far below the speed of light. Projectile models apply its laws to an object moving under specified forces.
Ballistics: The science of launching, flying, and impacting projectiles, especially firearms and other weapons. It studies projectile motion in the context of launch systems and impact.
Free fall: Motion in which gravity is the only force acting on an object. An ideal projectile is in free fall after launch, but real projectiles may also experience drag.
Trajectory: The path an object follows through space as a function of time. A projectile traces a trajectory determined by its launch conditions and forces.
Newton's laws of motion: Three principles relating an object's motion to the forces acting on it. They connect the forces on a projectile to its acceleration and changing velocity.
Artillery: Large-caliber weapons designed to fire munitions over long distances. Artillery calculations use projectile trajectories to estimate where a shell will land.
Orbital mechanics: The study of the motion of objects under gravity, including spacecraft and natural satellites. Orbits are gravitational trajectories on a planetary scale, rather than ordinary launched flights near the ground.
Initial velocity: The velocity of an object at the start of a defined interval of motion. Its magnitude and direction set a projectile’s starting speed and launch angle.
Vector (physics): A quantity with both magnitude and direction, such as displacement, velocity, or force. Separating velocity and force into components simplifies projectile calculations.