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In dealing with the motion of a projectile in air, we ignore the effect of air resistance on motion. This gives trajectory as a parabola as you have studied. What would the trajectory look like if air resistance is included? Sketch such a trajectory and explain why you have drawn it that way.

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In dealing with the motion of a projectile in air, we ignore the effect of air resistance on motion. This gives trajectory as a parabola. Now, considering the effect of air resistance in horizontal and vertical directions then, the air resistance acting on the projectile motion is considered, and the vertical and horizontal velocity decreases due to air resistance.
$$
\begin{aligned}
& H_{\max }=\frac{u^2 \theta}{2 g} \\
& R=\frac{u^2}{g} \sin 2 \theta
\end{aligned}
$$
These are the formulas which are responsible for reducing the height and range of the motion and these become smaller than the height and range which exists when there is no air resistance.

Hence, due to air resistance, the particle’s energy as well as the horizontal component of velocity keeps on decreasing making the fall steeper than the rise as shown in the figure.

Posted by

Satyajeet Kumar

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