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Related Concept Videos

Projectile Motion: Example01:18

Projectile Motion: Example

The theory of projectile motion is very useful for players of several sports to improve their performance. For example, a javelin thrower needs to throw their javelin in such a way that it travels as far as possible. The javelin thrower takes a short run-up to increase the initial speed of the javelin. The range of a projectile is at its maximum at a 45° angle so javelin throwers try to angle their throw as close to 45° as possible.
When we speak of the range (R) of a projectile on level...
Motion of a Projectile01:23

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.
Projectile Motion01:25

Projectile Motion

Projectile motion models the flight of an object launched into the air, such as a soccer ball kicked during a penalty, under the simplifying assumption that air resistance is negligible. When gravity is the only force, the object experiences a steady downward acceleration at all times. This single fact explains why projectile motion can be analyzed as two independent motions happening simultaneously: a horizontal motion that does not speed up or slow down, and a vertical motion that continually...
Projectile Motion01:20

Projectile Motion

An object thrown in the air follows a parabolic path under the influence of Earth's gravitational force. The motion of such an object is called projectile motion, and the object itself a projectile. The parabolic path followed by the projectile is called the trajectory. Some common examples of projectile motion are the launching of fireworks, a golf ball in the air, meteors entering the Earth's atmosphere, and the firing of bullets.
When an object falls under gravity and has no horizontal...
Projectile Motion: Equations01:26

Projectile Motion: Equations

Projectile motion is commonly observed in our day-to-day life. For example, a basketball thrown by a player, an arrow shot from a bow, and kids jumping into the pool, all undergo projectile motion.
Any projectile motion problem can be solved by using the following strategy:
Coriolis Force01:23

Coriolis Force

An accelerating particle experiences a force equal to the mass multiplied by the acceleration in an inertial frame of reference. Consider a particle in a non-inertial frame of reference, such as a sliding ball on a rotating table. The acceleration of the ball in this rotating reference frame is different than in the intertial frame, which modifies its equation of motion. The fictitious forces acting additionally on a rotating frame of reference alter Newton's Second Law expression. Centripetal...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

An Emerging Target Paradigm to Evoke Fast Visuomotor Responses on Human Upper Limb Muscles
09:27

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Published on: August 25, 2020

Modifying one's hand's trajectory when a moving target's orientation changes.

Eli Brenner1, Jeroen B J Smeets

  • 1Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. e.brenner@fbw.vu.nl

Experimental Brain Research
|May 30, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

People take over 150 ms to adjust hand movements to changes in a moving target's orientation. This response time is slower than reacting to positional changes, suggesting orientation adjustments are not rapid.

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10:51

Frame-by-Frame Video Analysis of Idiosyncratic Reach-to-Grasp Movements in Humans

Published on: January 15, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Human motor control
  • Perceptual-motor integration
  • Visuomotor adaptation

Background:

  • Hand interception paths are influenced by moving target orientation.
  • Understanding the speed of human visuomotor responses to orientation changes is crucial for explaining motor control.
  • Previous research has focused on responses to target position changes, but orientation change responses are less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the time required for humans to adjust hand interception paths in response to abrupt changes in a moving target's orientation.
  • To compare the speed of orientation adjustment responses with responses to target position changes and movement initiation.

Main Methods:

  • Participants intercepted elongated moving targets on a screen.
  • Targets occasionally changed orientation mid-flight after movement initiation.
  • Response times for adjusting hand paths to orientation changes were measured.

Main Results:

  • Adjusting hand paths to target orientation changes took participants slightly over 150 ms.
  • This adjustment time was approximately 50 ms longer than responding to a 5-mm target position jump.
  • The orientation adjustment time was only slightly shorter than the time to initiate movement.

Conclusions:

  • Responses to changes in perceived visual orientation are not exceptionally fast.
  • The lack of a consistent, general relationship between target orientation and hand movement direction in daily life may explain the slower response.
  • Humans may prioritize accuracy over speed for orientation-based interception to avoid inappropriate movements.