A ball is thrown upwards and it returns to the ground describing a par...
Understanding the Motion of a Thrown Ball
When a ball is thrown upwards, it follows a parabolic path due to the influence of gravity. In this motion, certain quantities change, while others remain constant.
Constant Quantity: Horizontal Component of Velocity
- The horizontal component of velocity remains constant throughout the ball's motion.
- This is because there are no horizontal forces acting on the ball (assuming air resistance is negligible).
- As a result, the horizontal velocity does not change; it stays the same from the moment the ball is thrown until it returns to the ground.
Other Components Explained
- Kinetic Energy of the Ball
- The kinetic energy changes as the ball moves upward and downward due to variations in speed. At the highest point, the speed (and thus kinetic energy) is at its minimum.
- Speed of the Ball
- The overall speed of the ball is not constant. It decreases as the ball rises (due to gravity) and increases again as it falls back down, showing a change in kinetic energy.
- Vertical Component of Velocity
- The vertical component of velocity changes continuously. It is positive while the ball is moving up, becomes zero at the peak, and then becomes negative as it descends back to the ground.
Conclusion
In summary, the only quantity that remains constant during the ball's flight is the horizontal component of velocity, while kinetic energy, speed, and the vertical component of velocity all vary due to the effects of gravity.
A ball is thrown upwards and it returns to the ground describing a par...
Horizontal component of velocity
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