What describes the trajectory of a projectile?

The trajectory of a projectile refers specifically to the path that the projectile follows as it moves through the air under the influence of gravity, typically forming a parabolic shape. This path is affected significantly by the initial angle of launch. When a projectile is launched, the angle relative to the horizontal at which it is released plays a crucial role in determining how high and how far it will travel.

In physics, the trajectory is determined by several factors, including initial speed, launch angle, and the gravitational pull, but it is primarily the launch angle that dictates the relationship between vertical and horizontal motion. Therefore, understanding the significance of the launch angle is essential for analyzing projectile motion.

The other options, while related to projectile motion, do not accurately define the trajectory itself. The path followed until the projectile lands, the speed of launch, and the total distance covered are all concepts that pertain to the overall behavior of projectiles but do not encapsulate the definition of trajectory as specifically as the launch angle does.