I need some Random Facts

[ThisIsMyName]

I'm doing a Physics project on Projectile Motion. I need some fun/random/whatever facts about Projectile Motion that are school appropriate. I need about... Ten. Any you have would be terrific! Thanks!

[InfiniteNow]

The faster an object is moving, the more it hurts when you get hit by it, even if it's rest mass is negligible.

[Jay-qu]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

The faster an object is moving, the more it hurts when you get hit by it, even if it's rest mass is negligible.

so why dont photons hurt

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by ThisIsMyName

I'm doing a Physics project on Projectile Motion. I need some fun/random/whatever facts about Projectile Motion that are school appropriate. I need about... Ten. Any you have would be terrific! Thanks!

Can do. How about how the stitching on a baseball affects it motion?
http://library.thinkquest.org/11902/physics/curve2.html

Similarly, why does a dimpled golf ball fly farther than a smooth one?
http://www.franklygolf.com/Q_A/balls.asp

My two cents worth at any rate.

[Michaelangelica]

You could try trolling through the "Quirky science facts" thread?

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by Jay-qu

so why dont photons hurt

They hurt your eyes? I dunno... negligible is relative brother...

[ronthepon]

A fun and random fact.

Projectile motion is only for the center of mass of a body, thus it is possible to make seemingly impossible kind of long jumps by holding heavy weights in the hands.

When in air (just after jumping the long jump) moving the weights properly allows yoyu to manipulate your center of mass, and lets you do weirdly long jumps.

I've tried this out with dumb bells, and I think that some ballerina(???) dance form (thingy) makes use of this effect in a particular move.

[anto]

velocity in the x direction is constant in projectile motion

[sanctus]

If the projectile is fast enough it will go in orbit (endless fall)

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by sanctus

If the projectile is fast enough it will go in orbit (endless fall)

Good point! Speed up the projectile even faster and you have escape velocity, approximately 25,000 mph for Earth.