Projectile Motion and Fluid Mechanics | Edexcel A-Level Physical Education (9PE0)
Projectile Motion and Fluid Mechanics
- 61 questions
- 4 subtopics
- Component 1: scientific principles of physical education
- Component 1
Projectile Motion and Fluid Mechanics is examined in Component 1, Scientific principles of physical education.
It covers forces acting on a projectile in flight, release velocity, height and angle, drag, streamlining and technology and lift, the Bernoulli effect and spin.
Sample questions from Projectile Motion and Fluid Mechanics
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Forces acting on a projectile in flight
Why does a shot follow an almost parabolic flight path?
Show the answer
The shot is heavy, dense and small, and it travels relatively slowly. Weight is far larger than air resistance, so the path is close to a symmetrical parabola. -
Forces acting on a projectile in flight
How can lift change the flight of a projectile?
Show the answer
Lift acts at right angles to the airflow and can hold a discus or javelin in the air for longer. The extra flight time increases the horizontal distance. -
Release velocity, height and angle
Explain why a shot putter releases at an angle below 45°.
Show the answer
The shot leaves the hand about 2 m above the ground, so the flight already gains time from its height. A lower angle, around 35° to 40°, gives the best balance of horizontal speed and flight time. A putter can also exert more force at a lower angle. -
Release velocity, height and angle
How can a javelin thrower use knowledge of projectile motion to refine technique?
Show the answer
The thrower can work on a faster run-up and a longer pull to raise release speed. A consistent release angle suited to the javelin's lift can then be grooved in practice. -
Drag, streamlining and technology
How does a swimmer create a streamlined position after a turn?
Show the answer
The swimmer stretches both arms beyond the head, hands together, with the body long and straight. The narrow shape cuts frontal area and turbulence, so the push-off carries further. -
Drag, streamlining and technology
How have swimsuits been designed using hydrodynamics?
Show the answer
Modern racing suits are tight and smooth, compressing the body into a streamlined shape. Some fabrics repel water and reduce skin friction. -
Lift, the Bernoulli effect and spin
Why does upward lift increase the distance of a discus throw?
Show the answer
Upward lift partly counters weight, so the discus stays in the air for longer. More flight time lets the horizontal velocity carry it further. -
Lift, the Bernoulli effect and spin
How does backspin affect the flight of a ball?
Show the answer
The bottom of the ball spins against the airflow, so pressure is higher below the ball. The upward Magnus force makes the ball float and carry further, as in a golf drive.
The 4 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Forces acting on a projectile in flight | Projectiles and the forces on them, parabolic flight, the shot and the shuttlecock that departs from it, free-body diagrams, horizontal and vertical components, lift, the golf ball and the long jumper as a projectile. | 14 |
| Release velocity, height and angle | Release velocity, height and angle, the optimum angle, the shot putter below 45° and the long jumper at about 20°, angles too steep or flat, the javelin, glide and rotational techniques, video analysis and motion capture. | 15 |
| Drag, streamlining and technology | Aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, drag and velocity, frontal cross-sectional area, streamlining after a turn, surface characteristics, drafting, wind tunnels, swimsuits and the polyurethane ban, dimpled golf balls and the javelin redesign. | 16 |
| Lift, the Bernoulli effect and spin | Lift and the angle of attack on a discus, the Bernoulli effect, the inverted aerofoil on a racing car, how spin is imparted, the Magnus effect, and the flight and bounce of topspin, backspin and sidespin balls. | 16 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
Edexcel A-Level Physical Education Active Recall Guide
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