Which of the following scenarios is an example of projectile motion (neglect air resistance) after the object is released?

• A. A ball is launched horizontally from the edge of a table and follows a curved path as it falls.
• B. A stone is dropped straight down from rest and falls vertically with no horizontal motion.
• C. A hockey puck slides across ice while slowing down due to friction.
• D. A car travels at constant speed in a straight line on a level road.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definition of projectile motion: it is the motion of an object that is only influenced by gravity after it is released, typically following a curved, parabolic path.
2. Analyze each scenario to see if the object moves under the influence of gravity alone, with no other forces acting horizontally after release.
3. For the ball launched horizontally from the edge of a table, note that it has an initial horizontal velocity and then moves under gravity, creating a curved trajectory—this fits projectile motion.
4. For the stone dropped straight down, it only moves vertically under gravity, so it is not following a curved path with horizontal motion; this is free fall, not projectile motion.
5. For the hockey puck and the car, both experience forces other than gravity (friction and engine force), and their paths are not curved due to gravity alone, so they are not examples of projectile motion.