Grade 11 · Physics
Free Fall & Projectiles
Why it matters
Motion under gravity.
Core20m readingPrerequisite: The Equations of Uniform Acceleration
What is projectile motion?
Short answer
Projectile motion is the curved path of an object thrown or launched near Earth’s surface, moving under gravity alone. Its horizontal and vertical motions are independent: the horizontal velocity stays constant while the vertical motion accelerates downward at about 9.8 m/s². Combining the two gives a parabolic trajectory. Air resistance is usually neglected in introductory analysis.
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Frequently asked questions
- Why are horizontal and vertical motion analyzed separately?
- Gravity acts only vertically, so it changes the vertical velocity while the horizontal velocity stays constant — the two are independent.
- What shape is a projectile’s path?
- A parabola, resulting from constant horizontal velocity combined with constant downward acceleration.