* Constant Acceleration: The only force acting on the projectile is gravity, which provides a constant downward acceleration (we're ignoring air resistance).
* Parabolic Path: The projectile's path is a parabola because the horizontal velocity remains constant while the vertical velocity changes due to gravity.
* Velocity and Acceleration Vectors:
* Velocity: The velocity vector always points in the direction of the projectile's motion (tangent to the parabolic path).
* Acceleration: The acceleration vector always points straight downward due to gravity.
Visualizing the Situation:
Imagine a ball thrown upwards and outwards.
* At the highest point of its trajectory, the vertical velocity is zero, but the acceleration is still downward due to gravity.
* At all other points, the velocity vector is angled, and the acceleration vector is straight down, making them perpendicular to each other.
Conclusion:
Because gravity always pulls the projectile downward, the acceleration will always be perpendicular to the velocity at any point in its parabolic path.
