---
title: "A projectile is launched from horizontal ground with an initial velocity directed at an angle above the horizontal and moves under the influence of gravity alone with negligible air resistance. Point \\(P\\) is a location along the trajectory while the projectile is ascending toward its maximum height. Which of the following diagrams correctly shows the directions of the projectile’s velocity vector \\(\\vec{v}\\), tangential acceleration component \\(\\vec{a}_t\\), and normal acceleration component \\(\\vec{a}_n\\) at point \\(P\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120542/"
date_modified: "2026-08-23T04:39:51+00:00"
---

# A projectile is launched from horizontal ground with an initial velocity directed at an angle above the horizontal and moves under the influence of gravity alone with negligible air resistance. Point \(P\) is a location along the trajectory while the projectile is ascending toward its maximum height. Which of the following diagrams correctly shows the directions of the projectile’s velocity vector \(\vec{v}\), tangential acceleration component \(\vec{a}_t\), and normal acceleration component \(\vec{a}_n\) at point \(P\)?

A projectile is launched from horizontal ground with an initial velocity directed at an angle above the horizontal and moves under the influence of gravity alone with negligible air resistance. Point \(P\) is a location along the trajectory while the projectile is ascending toward its maximum height. Which of the following diagrams correctly shows the directions of the projectile's velocity vector \(\vec{v}\), tangential acceleration component \(\vec{a}_t\), and normal acceleration component \(\vec{a}_n\) at point \(P\)?

![A two-dimensional Cartesian plane showing a dashed parabolic trajectory launched from the horizontal axis, curving upward to an apex, and descending back to the horizontal axis. A solid black dot labeled P is marked on the ascending portion of the dashed curve, halfway between the launch point and the apex. No other labels, vectors, or annotations appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787459990-Apznio.jpg)

- **A.** \(\vec{v}\) is directed tangent to the path upward and to the right; \(\vec{a}_t\) is directed parallel to \(\vec{v}\) (upward and to the right); \(\vec{a}_n\) is directed perpendicular to \(\vec{v}\) toward the concave side of the path (downward and to the right).
- **B.** \(\vec{v}\) is directed tangent to the path upward and to the right; \(\vec{a}_t\) is directed antiparallel to \(\vec{v}\) (downward and to the left); \(\vec{a}_n\) is directed perpendicular to \(\vec{v}\) toward the concave side of the path (downward and to the right).
- **C.** \(\vec{v}\) is directed tangent to the path upward and to the right; \(\vec{a}_t\) is directed antiparallel to \(\vec{v}\) (downward and to the left); \(\vec{a}_n\) is directed perpendicular to \(\vec{v}\) toward the convex side of the path (upward and to the left).
- **D.** \(\vec{v}\) is directed tangent to the path upward and to the right; \(\vec{a}_t\) is directed horizontally to the left; \(\vec{a}_n\) is directed vertically downward.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120542/*