What role does gravity play during projectile motion?

In projectile motion, gravity is the force that acts on the projectile after it has been launched. When an object is projected into the air, gravity continuously pulls it downward toward the center of the Earth. This downward force causes the projectile to experience a constant acceleration, typically measured as approximately 9.81 m/s², which is the acceleration due to gravity.

This acceleration affects the motion in two primary ways: first, it causes the projectile to rise to a certain peak height, after which it starts to fall back down; second, it influences the time the projectile remains in the air and the trajectory it follows. The path taken by the projectile is parabolic as a result of this constant downward acceleration.

Moreover, the role of gravity is not limited to just affecting the vertical component of the projectile's motion; it is crucial in determining the overall motion characteristics, such as maximum height and time of flight. Thus, it is clear that gravity actively influences projectile motion by accelerating the object downwards throughout its flight.