two motions - one path in space
- Author:
- Judah L Schwartz
Objects that move differently can trace the same trajectory in space.
Here are the paths that were traced by two objects moving differently
although they each traverse the same parabola in space.
The fact that the two motions differ becomes clear when you look
at where they were at discrete time intervals during their motion.
For each of the motions, can you sketch the vertical and horizontal position
as a function of time?
For each of the motions, can you sketch the vertical and horizontal velocity
as a function of time?
Can you suggest physical situations that might give rise to these two different motions?