angle of impact

The angle of impact describes the direction in which an object strikes a surface, measured relative to a perpendicular line or surface. It indicates whether the impact was more direct or more oblique. A perpendicular impact has a 90-degree angle, hitting straight on, while a shallow angle means the object glided or skidded along the surface before stopping. Understanding this angle helps investigators analyze how an event—like a collision or a projectile—occurred, providing insights into the forces involved and the possible speed or trajectory of the impacting object.