In a projectile motion, the horizontal component of the projectile's motion is constant. This means that the projectile moves at a constant speed horizontally throughout its flight.
On the other hand, the vertical component of the projectile's motion changes continuously due to the effect of gravity. The vertical speed decreases as the projectile reaches the top of its path, then increases as it falls back down.
At the top of the path, the projectile's vertical speed momentarily becomes zero before it starts descending again. This momentary stop in the vertical speed at the top of the path is a key characteristic of projectile motion.
To summarize:
- The horizontal component of a projectile's motion is constant.
- The vertical component of a projectile's motion changes, with the speed being zero at the top of the path before descending again.
