trajectory
Projectile's curved course
Trajectory is the path something follows through space—originally the curve of a projectile like a bullet or thrown ball, governed by gravity and momentum.
The word extends to any course of movement or development: the trajectory of her career, the company's upward trajectory.
In physics, trajectory remains technical; in everyday use, it often implies direction and momentum toward some outcome.
Of hurled objects
- parabolaSymmetrical open plane curve
- arcCurved line segment
- launchSet into motion
- angleGeometric measure of rotation
velocity · drag · apex · descent · range · mortar · shell · cannon
Planned path forward
- directionWay something faces
- vectorQuantity with direction
- routePath from A to B
- lineContinuous mark or queue
track · deviation · plotted · charted · intended · altered · curved · straight
Orbiting celestial body
- orbitCurved celestial path
- gravityMutual mass attraction
- ellipticalOval-shaped or indirect
- geostationaryFixed above one point
Kepler · transfer · escape · velocity · inclination · eccentricity · spacecraft · planetary
Forward movement or promotion
- progressionSequential forward movement
- climbAscend using effort
- ladderPortable climbing frame
- promotionRank increase or publicity
ascent · growth · milestones · development · ambition · aspirations · mentorship · goals
Forecast of coming events
- extrapolationExtending data beyond bounds
- trendDirection of change
- modelingSimulating or demonstrating form
- scenarioPostulated event sequence
estimation · simulation · forecast · outlook · anticipated · expected · current · historical
ballistic
Of hurled objects
angle · velocity · drag · apex · descent · range · mortar · shell · cannon · artillery
course
Planned path forward
line · track · deviation · plotted · charted · intended · altered · curved · straight · divergent
satellite
Orbiting celestial body
- orbitCurved celestial path
- gravityMutual mass attraction
- ellipticalOval-shaped or indirect
geostationary · Kepler · transfer · escape · velocity · inclination · eccentricity · spacecraft · planetary · retrograde
advancement
Forward movement or promotion
- progressionSequential forward movement
- climbAscend using effort
- ladderPortable climbing frame
promotion · ascent · growth · milestones · development · ambition · aspirations · mentorship · goals · networking
prediction
Forecast of coming events
- extrapolationExtending data beyond bounds
- trendDirection of change
- modelingSimulating or demonstrating form
scenario · estimation · simulation · forecast · outlook · anticipated · expected · current · historical · growth
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
- classical physicsNewton, Newton's laws, Newtonian physics, laws of motion, force
- marksmanshipmarksmanship, dry firing, accuracy, aim, target practice
- ballisticsballistics, bullet, bullet drop, cartridge, casing
- directional drillingdirectional drilling, horizontal drilling, inclination, azimuth, drop rate
- Reinforcement Learningagent, reward, state, action, environment
trajectorystasis
State of inactivity
immobility · standstill · stillness · fixedness · inertia
trajectoryrandomness
Lack of predictable pattern
aimlessness · wandering · drift · meandering · chaos
trajectorydecline
Decrease or refuse
stagnation · downfall · regression · descent · downturn
- upward trajectory
- ballistic trajectoryCurve of unpowered projectile
- bullet trajectoryFlight path of ammunition