Projectile motion
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As a projectile moves in its path, is there any point along the path where the velocity and acceleration vectors are
(a) perpendicular to each other?
(b) parallel to each other?
© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com December 24, 2021, 7:36 pm ad1c9bdddfhttps://brainmass.com/physics/acceleration/relative-direction-of-velocity-and-acceleration-vectors-202583
SOLUTION This solution is FREE courtesy of BrainMass!
In a projectile, the acceleration vector always points vertically downwards (acceleration due to gravity), and the velocity vector at any given instant is tangential to the trajectory at that instant. Hence, the velocity vector will be horizontal at the highest point of the trajectory, and therefore perpendicular to the acceleration vector.
At no point is the trajectory vertical. Hence, there is no point at which the velocity vector is parallel to the acceleration vector.
© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com December 24, 2021, 7:36 pm ad1c9bdddf>https://brainmass.com/physics/acceleration/relative-direction-of-velocity-and-acceleration-vectors-202583