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WAPhysical EducationQuick questions
Unit 3: Factors Affecting Performance
Quick questions on Projectile motion: WACE Physical Education Studies Unit 3
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the three factors of release?Show answer
Three things at the moment of release decide the flight path.
What are independent components?Show answer
Once a projectile is in the air, its motion is best understood by splitting the velocity into a horizontal component and a vertical component, which act independently. The horizontal velocity stays roughly constant (ignoring air resistance) and covers the horizontal distance. The vertical velocity is slowed, stopped and reversed by gravity, which controls how long the projectile stays in the air. Distance travelled is horizontal velocity multiplied by the time in the air, so both components matter.
What is optimal release angle?Show answer
For a projectile released and landing at the same height, the angle that maximises horizontal distance is about 45 degrees, because it splits velocity evenly between getting up (flight time) and going forward (distance).
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