The path of a projectile fired at a 30 degree angle to the horizontal is best described as
1.parabolic
2.linear
3.circular
4.hyperbolic
2 answers
Parabolic...a projectile makes parabolic motion.
A parabolic path is correct in the flat-earth, uniform-gravity idealized situation usually assumed in ballistics. But when the inverse-square law gravity of a spherical earth is taken into account, it can be shown that the trajectory is actually a portion of an ellipse.
(Neglecting air friction, which complicates matters still further).
(Neglecting air friction, which complicates matters still further).
1 answer