Question

in projectile motion does the drop time of a ball depend on the horizontal velocity? Explain your answer. If there are variations in drop times, what could account for those? What generalization can you make about horizontally moving projectiles?

Answer 1

Nope. Horizontal velocity plays no role. Perpendicular directions do not impact one another.

Answer 2

what about the variations in drop times?

Answer 3

@Pompeii00

Answer 4

@PaxPolaris can you help?

Answer 5

pompeii is right ... horizontal velocity has no effect on how long it drops vertically ...

Answer 6

** on how long it takes to drops vertically ...

Answer 7

the experiment was a ball rolling on a ramp on a table then falling off the edge. wouldn't horizontal velocity in this case effect the speed and time that the ball drops?

Answer 8

suppose you are throwing a ball horizontally .... and it takes 3 seconds to hit the ground.

if you double the speed ... you'll go twice as far, but it'll still take 3 secs to hit the ground.

Answer 9

the only way you'd change the drop time (for a horizontally thrown projectile) is if you changed the height from which it is thrown

Answer 10

in the case of your experiment, there could be variation in drop times if the table is not perfectly horizontal.

Answer 11

so the initial velocity of the ball (just before it drops from the table) has a Vertical component as well as horizontal component ... This vertical velocity can also affect drop time.

Answer 12

so, even if the speed is changed on the ramp, it still has the same drop time because it would go further but still drop at the same time instead of just dropping straight off of the table?

Answer 13

exactly

Answer 14

thank you!