IB Sports, exercise and health science Topic B.2.2.1 Projectile Motion and the Effects of Forces on Flight Path Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Sports, exercise and health science Topic B.2.2.1 Projectile Motion and the Effects of Forces on Flight Path Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Projectile Motion in Sport

Definition

Projectile Motion

The curved path an object follows when it is launched into the air and influenced by gravity and air resistance.

This motion is shaped by six key factors:
1. Initial velocity
2. Angle of projection
3. Height of release
4. Gravity
5. Air Resistance
6. Spin

Key Factors Affecting Projectile Motion

Initial velocity:
1. Starting speed of the projectile
2. Affects both distance and height
3. Determines overall range
Angle of projection:
1. Launch angle relative to horizontal
2. Optimal angle depends on goal
3. Different for each sport
Height of release:
1. Starting height above landing point
2. Affects flight time and range
3. Critical in sports like basketball and volleyball

Common Mistake

45° maximises range only when release and landing height are the same.
The optimal angle depends on release height, target height, and air resistance.

Optimal Angles in Sport

Level ground projectiles:
1. 45° maximises range
2. Used in shot put
3. Ideal for horizontal targets
Elevated targets:
1. Above 45° for basketball
2. 50-60° for volleyball serves
3. Higher angles increase peak height

Example

In basketball free throws:

Release height: ~2m
Target height: 3.05m
Optimal angle: 52-55°
Initial velocity: ~7.5 m/s

Idealised projectile motion uses two independent velocity components

In the idealised case with no air resistance, horizontal velocity stays constant because no horizontal force acts.
Vertical velocity changes under gravity, slowing on the way up and speeding up on the way down.
The resulting path is a symmetric parabola.
Flight time depends only on the vertical component of the launch velocity.

Initial velocity determines projectile range and height

Definition

Initial Velocity

Initial velocity is the speed at which a projectile is launched. It has two components:

The range of a projectile is proportional to the square of its initial velocity.

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Projectile Motion in Sport

Definition

Projectile Motion

The curved path an object follows when it is launched into the air and influenced by gravity and air resistance.

This motion is shaped by six key factors:
1. Initial velocity
2. Angle of projection
3. Height of release
4. Gravity
5. Air Resistance
6. Spin

Key Factors Affecting Projectile Motion

Initial velocity:
1. Starting speed of the projectile
2. Affects both distance and height
3. Determines overall range
Angle of projection:
1. Launch angle relative to horizontal
2. Optimal angle depends on goal
3. Different for each sport
Height of release:
1. Starting height above landing point
2. Affects flight time and range
3. Critical in sports like basketball and volleyball

Common Mistake

45° maximises range only when release and landing height are the same.
The optimal angle depends on release height, target height, and air resistance.

Optimal Angles in Sport

Level ground projectiles:
1. 45° maximises range
2. Used in shot put
3. Ideal for horizontal targets
Elevated targets:
1. Above 45° for basketball
2. 50-60° for volleyball serves
3. Higher angles increase peak height

Example

In basketball free throws:

Release height: ~2m
Target height: 3.05m
Optimal angle: 52-55°
Initial velocity: ~7.5 m/s

Idealised projectile motion uses two independent velocity components

In the idealised case with no air resistance, horizontal velocity stays constant because no horizontal force acts.
Vertical velocity changes under gravity, slowing on the way up and speeding up on the way down.
The resulting path is a symmetric parabola.
Flight time depends only on the vertical component of the launch velocity.

Initial velocity determines projectile range and height

Definition

Initial Velocity

Initial velocity is the speed at which a projectile is launched. It has two components:

The range of a projectile is proportional to the square of its initial velocity.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

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Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

A.1 Communication3 subtopics

A.2 Hydration and nutrition3 subtopics

A.3 Response3 subtopics

B.1 Generating movement in the body4 subtopics

B.2 Forces, motion and movement3 subtopics

B.3 Injury2 subtopics

C.1 Individual differences2 subtopics

C.2 Motor learning2 subtopics

C.3 Motivation3 subtopics

C.4 Stress and coping2 subtopics

C.5 Psychological skills2 subtopics

IB Sports, exercise and health science B.2.2.1 Projectile Motion and the Effects of Forces on Flight Path Notes

A.1 Communication3 subtopics

A.2 Hydration and nutrition3 subtopics

A.3 Response3 subtopics

B.1 Generating movement in the body4 subtopics

B.2 Forces, motion and movement3 subtopics

B.3 Injury2 subtopics

C.1 Individual differences2 subtopics

C.2 Motor learning2 subtopics

C.3 Motivation3 subtopics

C.4 Stress and coping2 subtopics

C.5 Psychological skills2 subtopics

Projectile Motion in Sport

Key Factors Affecting Projectile Motion

Optimal Angles in Sport

Idealised projectile motion uses two independent velocity components

Initial velocity determines projectile range and height

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Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Projectile Motion in Sport

Key Factors Affecting Projectile Motion

Optimal Angles in Sport

Idealised projectile motion uses two independent velocity components

Initial velocity determines projectile range and height

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account