NCEA Level 3 Physics Mechanics Practice Exam 2025 – The Complete All-in-One Guide to Mastery and Success!

The term "projectile range" specifically refers to the horizontal distance traveled by a projectile during its flight until it returns to the same vertical level from which it was launched. The range can be influenced by various factors including the angle of launch, the initial velocity, and the effects of air resistance (though this latter factor is often neglected in basic physics problems).

In projectile motion, the object follows a curved path due to the influence of gravity, which causes the vertical motion. However, the range is distinctly focused on the horizontal aspect of this motion, encompassing how far the projectile has traveled horizontally before landing. This concept is typically calculated using equations that consider the initial speed and launch angle.

Other options like maximum height and total time of flight refer to different characteristics of the projectile's motion. Maximum height relates to the peak vertical position of the projectile, while total time of flight indicates how long the projectile remains in the air, neither of which provides information about the horizontal distance traveled.