WHEN PROJECTILES ARE LAUNCHED THEY FOLLOW THE SAME PATH AS OTHER PROJECTILES THAT ARE LAUNCHED AT THAT SAME ANGLE FOLLOW. THIS IS EXPLAINED BY A PROJECTILE MOTION GRAPH!!!
IN THE DIAGRAM THE RED ARROWS REPRESENT THE OBJECTS VERTICAL VELOCITY, THE OBJECT FIRST TRAVELS UP THEN GRAVITY FORCES IT TO COME BACK DOWN. THE BLUE ARROWS REPRESENT THE OBJECT HORIZONTAL MOTION AS YOU CAN SEE THEY STAY CONSTANT (WITH NO AIR RESISTANCE).
RELEVANCE TO SKATEBOARDING
WHEN SKATEBOARDING ONE OF THE MOST FUN THINGS TO DO IS TO GET SOME AIR, AND FROM EXPERIENCE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU DO NOT JUST FLOAT STRAIGHT UP. YOU MUST, LIKE A PROJECTILE, LAUNCH YOUR BOARD INTO THE AIR AND JUMP TO STAY ABOVE IT. WHEN DOING THIS, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ANGLE YOU ARE LAUNCHING THE SKATEBOARD AT SO YOU KNOW HOW HIGH TO JUMP OR HOW FAR TO JUMP TO STAY ABOVE THE BOARD. SKATEBOARDERS MAY NOT BE GETTING THEIR PROTRACTORS OUT TO GET THAT PERFECT 32 DEGREE KICK FLIP, BUT WE DO THINK ABOUT THE ANGLE WE LAUNCH OURSELVES OUT AT.
QUESTION #1 IF A SKATEBOARDER TURNS HIMSELF JUST AS HE IS LAUNCHING HIMSELF INTO THE AIR, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HIS BODY AND/OR BOARD?
ANSWER: IT WILL ROTATE IN THE DIRECTION HE TURNED, CAUSING HIM TO DO A 180 DEGREE OR 360 DEGREE TURN IN THE AIR BEFORE LANDING.
QUESTION #2 IF A SKATEBOARDER IS COMING OUT OF A RAMP AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE, GOING FAST ENOUGH TO LAUNCH OFF THE RAMP, WILL THEY GO STRAIGHT DOWN OR STAY IN THE AIR FOR A WIHLE HEADING IN THE SAME DIRECTION?
ANSWER: IF THEY POP THEIR BOARD, THEY'LL STAY UP, IF NOT, THEY'LL GO STRAIGHT DOWN
ANSWER: IT WILL ROTATE IN THE DIRECTION HE TURNED, CAUSING HIM TO DO A 180 DEGREE OR 360 DEGREE TURN IN THE AIR BEFORE LANDING.
QUESTION #2 IF A SKATEBOARDER IS COMING OUT OF A RAMP AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE, GOING FAST ENOUGH TO LAUNCH OFF THE RAMP, WILL THEY GO STRAIGHT DOWN OR STAY IN THE AIR FOR A WIHLE HEADING IN THE SAME DIRECTION?
ANSWER: IF THEY POP THEIR BOARD, THEY'LL STAY UP, IF NOT, THEY'LL GO STRAIGHT DOWN