1. What is Horizontal Velocity?

Horizontal velocity (v_x) is the horizontal component of a projectile's velocity. It remains constant (ignoring air resistance) throughout the projectile's motion.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the horizontal velocity formula:

Where:

• \( v \) — Initial velocity (m/s)
• \( \theta \) — Launch angle (degrees)
• \( v_x \) — Horizontal velocity (m/s)

Explanation: The horizontal component is found by multiplying the initial velocity by the cosine of the launch angle.

3. Importance of Horizontal Velocity

Details: Horizontal velocity is crucial for determining the range of a projectile and analyzing motion in two dimensions. It's used in physics, engineering, and ballistics.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter velocity in m/s and angle in degrees (0-90). All values must be valid (velocity > 0, angle between 0-90 degrees).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does horizontal velocity remain constant?
A: In projectile motion (ignoring air resistance), there's no horizontal acceleration, so the horizontal velocity stays constant.

Q2: What happens at 0 degrees?
A: At 0° (horizontal launch), v_x = v since cos(0°) = 1. The projectile has no vertical component initially.

Q3: What happens at 90 degrees?
A: At 90° (vertical launch), v_x = 0 since cos(90°) = 0. The projectile goes straight up with no horizontal motion.

Q4: How does angle affect horizontal velocity?
A: As angle increases from 0° to 90°, horizontal velocity decreases from maximum to zero.

Q5: What are typical units for horizontal velocity?
A: Meters per second (m/s) in SI units, though feet per second (ft/s) or other units may be used depending on context.