12.2: Motion of a Projectile
Projectile motion becomes evident when a player kicks the ball into the air. The launch angle, or the angle at which the ball is kicked, plays a crucial role in determining the trajectory of the projectile. As the ball soars through the air, influenced solely by gravity, its motion can be dissected into two independent velocity components: the horizontal and the vertical.
Horizontal motion, governed by the initial kick, maintains a constant velocity throughout the flight of the soccer ball. Kinematics equations applied in the horizontal direction simplify the description of its entire motion with a single equation. On the other hand, the analysis of the vertical motion of the soccer ball, subjected solely to the force of gravity, can be done using kinematic equations specific to the vertical direction.
Calculating the horizontal and vertical components of the velocity of the soccer ball enables the determination of its resultant velocity, always tangent to the path of the projectile. The maximum range the ball can achieve depends on factors such as the initial speed, launch angle, and the gravitational acceleration acting upon it. In the dynamic interplay of forces, projectile motion in soccer exemplifies the intricate physics governing the flight of the ball.
