IB Physics SL A.1.8 Projectile components

Resolve projectile motion into horizontal and vertical components so you can find flight time, range, speed or height.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Objective
—
Level
SL

Exam points

  • use constant horizontal velocity with vertical acceleration g to calculate time of flight, range or cliff height
  • at launch height again, keep horizontal velocity unchanged and reverse the vertical component sign
  • resolve launch speed into vector components to find speed or height at a wall from angle, distance or time data

A.1.8—Projectile components question 1

[Maximum number: 5]

A student strikes a tennis ball that is initially at rest so that it leaves the racquet at a speed of 64 m s−164 \mathrm{~m} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}. The ball has a mass of 0.058 kg and the contact between the ball and the racquet lasts for 25 ms .

Question (a)

(a)

The student strikes the tennis ball at point P . The tennis ball is initially directed at an angle of 7.00∘7.00^{\circ} to the horizontal.

Figure for Question (a) — IB Physics SL

The following data are available.

Table for Question (a) — IB Physics SL
[ 5 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Calculate the time it takes the tennis ball to reach the net.

[ 2 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

Show that the tennis ball passes over the net.

[ 3 ]
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