At what point in the path of a projectile is the speed minimum?*1 pointOriginHighest pointLanding pointHalf-way up

Analyzing Projectile Motion

To determine at what point in the path of a projectile the speed is minimum, let's consider the motion of the projectile.

1. Understanding Projectile Motion:

   • A projectile's motion can be broken down into two components: horizontal and vertical. The horizontal component of velocity remains constant (assuming no air resistance), while the vertical component changes due to gravity.

2. Identifying Key Points:

   • Origin: This is the initial point where the projectile is launched. The speed is maximum at this point if we consider the launch speed.
   • Highest Point: At this point, the vertical component of the velocity is zero, although the horizontal component still exists. Therefore, the overall speed is at its minimum compared to the origin and landing point.
   • Landing Point: At this point, the projectile returns to the level of the origin with a speed equal to that at the origin, assuming no air resistance.
   • Half-way Up: The speed will be greater than at the highest point because the vertical component of velocity will be less than at the origin but greater than zero.

Conclusion

The speed of a projectile is minimum at the Highest point of its trajectory, as only the horizontal velocity remains, while the vertical component is zero at this position.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

Highest point.