What does trajectory mean?
Word: Trajectory
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Trajectory means the curved path that a moving object follows through the air or space. It can also mean the way something develops over time.
Synonyms: path, course
Word origin: Comes from Latin, from the verb traicere.
How do you spell trajectory?
Syllables: tra - jec - to - ry
Tricky part: The j is the trap: its sound tempts pupils to write a g, as in gem.
Watch out for: tragectory, trajetory
Memory tip: Project, inject and eject all share a j at this very point, and trajectory belongs to their family.
Trajectory in a sentence
Example 1: A small change in the angle alters a shuttlecock's trajectory.
Example 2: Engineers calculate the trajectory of a spacecraft long before it leaves Sriharikota.
Example 3: Arjun watched the trajectory of the paper plane as it curved towards the window.
Fun Fact
India's Mangalyaan spacecraft followed a carefully worked-out trajectory after its launch in November 2013 and reached Mars in September 2014.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
traject__y
a) ur
b) er
c) ar
d) or
Show answer
d) or. History and factory are spelt the same way at the end, even though the vowel fades in speech.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its meaning:
1. trajectory 2. velocity 3. altitude a. the speed of something in one direction b. the arc a thrown ball traces c. height above sea level
a) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
b) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
Show answer
d) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c. Physics separates the three neatly: how fast is velocity, how high is altitude, and which way it curves is the trajectory.
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option:
Trajectory goes back to the Latin verb traicere. What did traicere mean?
a) to walk along
b) to climb over
c) to throw across
d) to pull back
Show answer
c) to throw across. The Latin idea of throwing fits the path of anything launched through the air.
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the sentence?
When the batter hit the ball, the comentator described its trajectory and the crowd aplauded loudly.
a) 0
b) 1
c) 2
d) 3
Show answer
c) 2. Commentator needs a double m and applauded a double p.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. An astronomer plots a comet's trajectory. Which question is she answering?
a) How old is it now?
b) Where will it travel next?
c) What is it made of?
d) Who first named it?
Show answer
b) Where will it travel next?
2. 'Her career is on an upward trajectory.' What does this suggest?
a) She works on the top floor.
b) She keeps doing better at work.
c) She plans to stop working soon.
d) She travels often for her job.
Show answer
b) She keeps doing better at work.
