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title: "Two small projectiles, 1 and 2, are launched simultaneously from the same point on level ground with different initial speeds and launch angles into the air. Neglecting air resistance, while both projectiles remain in flight, which of the following correctly describes the distance between the two projectiles as a function of time and provides the correct physical justification?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123973/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T13:29:47+00:00"
---

# Two small projectiles, 1 and 2, are launched simultaneously from the same point on level ground with different initial speeds and launch angles into the air. Neglecting air resistance, while both projectiles remain in flight, which of the following correctly describes the distance between the two projectiles as a function of time and provides the correct physical justification?

Two small projectiles, 1 and 2, are launched simultaneously from the same point on level ground with different initial speeds and launch angles into the air. Neglecting air resistance, while both projectiles remain in flight, which of the following correctly describes the distance between the two projectiles as a function of time and provides the correct physical justification?

![A horizontal ground line is drawn along the bottom. From a single point on the ground, two dashed parabolic trajectory curves extend upward and to the right. The first trajectory is taller and narrower, while the second trajectory is lower and wider. At the common launch point, two solid arrows representing initial velocity vectors originate: one vector labeled v_1 directed at a steep angle above the horizontal, and a second vector labeled v_2 directed at a shallower angle above the horizontal. A downward vertical arrow to the right of the trajectories is labeled g. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1790602187-awEKCp.jpg)

- **A.** The distance increases linearly with time because the relative acceleration between the two projectiles is zero.
- **B.** The distance increases quadratically with time because each projectile follows a parabolic trajectory under uniform gravitational acceleration.
- **C.** The distance increases linearly with time because the horizontal component of velocity of each projectile is constant.
- **D.** The distance first increases and then decreases with time because the vertical velocity components of the projectiles change direction at different times.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123973/*