This is an interactive animation that shows the x- and y-displacements
for an object traveling in projectile motion without air resistance near the
surface of a planet, such as Earth. You can adjust the following parameters:
vxo - This is the original x-velocity of the projectile.
vyo - This is the original y-velocity of the projectile.
ay - This is the constant y-acceleration of the projectile, the
acceleration due to gravity.
Time interval - This is the length of time between which the
displacement markers are drawn.
View markers - These checkboxes control the visibility of their
respective displacement markers.
Pause/Resume - This button pauses or resumes the motion of the
You should notice that the x-displacements
are constant per time interval.
This is because the x-velocity
of the projectile is constant. The x-velocity is constant because there is no x-acceleration. There is no x-acceleration
because there is no x-force. In other words, gravity does not pull sideways.
You should notice that the y-displacements change per second.
This is because the y-velocity
of the projectile is changing. The y-velocity is changing because there is a y-acceleration. There is a y-acceleration
because there is a y-force. In other words, gravity pulls downward.