4.23. In dealing with the motion of a projectile in the air, we ignore the effect of air resistance on the 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.


Hint: Force due to air resistance acts in the direction opposite to that of the velocity of the projectile.

Step 1: Explanation

Due to air resistance, particle energy, as well as the horizontal component of velocity, keeps on decreasing making the fall steeper than rising as shown in the figure.

When we are neglecting the air resistance path was symmetric parabola (OAC). When air resistance is considered a path is an asymmetric parabola (OAB).