What term describes the curved path followed by an object, such as a thrown ball, that is launched into the air and moves under the influence of gravity alone?

Explanation

Projectile motion describes the curved path followed by an object that has been launched or thrown into the air and subsequently moves under the influence of gravity alone, ignoring air resistance for simplified analysis. This resulting path typically takes the shape of a parabola, combining a constant horizontal velocity with a vertical motion that is continuously affected by gravitational acceleration. Understanding projectile motion has practical applications ranging from analyzing the flight of a thrown ball in sports to calculating the trajectory of various types of launched objects. Explore more Everyday Science MCQs on mcqstutor to keep practicing.