Projectile Motion

Projectile Motion Screenshot
  • Kinematics
  • Air Resistance
  • Parabolic Curve
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Topics

  • Kinematics
  • Air Resistance
  • Parabolic Curve
  • Projectile Motion

Description

Blast a car out of a cannon, and challenge yourself to hit a target! Learn about projectile motion by firing various objects. Set parameters such as angle, initial speed, and mass. Explore vector representations, and add air resistance to investigate the factors that influence drag.

Sample Learning Goals

  • Determine how each parameter (initial height, initial angle, initial speed, mass, diameter, and altitude) affects the trajectory of an object, with and without air resistance.
  • Predict how varying the initial conditions will affect a projectile’s path, and provide an explanation for the prediction.
  • Estimate where an object will land, given its initial conditions.
  • Determine that the x and y motion of a projectile are independent.
  • Investigate the variables that affect the drag force.
  • Describe the the effect that the drag force has on the velocity and acceleration.
  • Discuss projectile motion using common vocabulary (such as: launch angle, initial speed, initial height, range, time).
Version 2.03

Teacher Tips

Download teacher tips PDF Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ).

Teacher-Submitted Activities

A Projectile Motion-Introduction (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein HS
UG-Intro
Lab
Remote
MC
Physics
Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein UG-Intro
HS
MC Physics
Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein UG-Intro
HS
Lab
Demo
HW
Physics
Kinematic Equation Activity A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Shea Phillips HS Guided Physics
Quadratic Projectiles A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. beki toussaint HS Lab Mathematics
Experimental Design: Projectile Motion! A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Jamie Schoenberger MS Lab
Guided
Earth Science
Other
Air Resistance Lesson A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. UTeach Middle School PhET Team MS Lab Physics
Projectile investigation for Middle School A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Jefferson County Middle School Workshop MS Lab Earth Science
Physics
Mathematics
Math in Motion A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Sam Jones HS Lab
Math in Motion - Tasks A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Sam Jones HS Lab Mathematics
Testing Predictions for Projectile Motion A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Scott McCurdy MS
HS
Demo
Lab
Physics
How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? This contribution was designed by PhET. Sarah Borenstein MS Other Chemistry
Physics
Biology
Earth Science
Projectile Motion Experiments Nawal Nayfeh HS
UG-Intro
Lab Physics
Fee Fall Nawal Nayfeh HS
UG-Intro
Remote
Lab
Physics
Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics Jaya Ramchandani HS Other Physics
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment Elyse Zimmer MS
HS
Other Chemistry
Biology
Physics
PhET Simulations Aligned for AP Physics C Roberta Tanner HS Other Physics
Projectile Motion - developing understanding. Dan Hanson UG-Intro
HS
Guided
HW
Physics
Projectile Motion Discovery Sean Boston K-5
MS
HS
UG-Intro
Demo
Discuss
Guided
Lab
HW
Physics
3 Projectile Motion Factors Mary Teren HS Guided
Lab
Physics
Projectile Motion Craig Reuter HS Lab Physics
Projectile Motion Bernadette Kozak HS Lab Physics
Applications of Parametric Equations Andrzej Sokolowski UG-Intro
HS
HW Mathematics
Projectile Motion Lab Amy Jordan HS Lab Physics
Kinematics Wang Yunhe HS Lab Physics
Projectile Investigation Teresa Gill MS Lab
AP Physics PhET Projectile Motion Lab Nick Borowicz UG-Intro Lab
Projectile Motion-Using kinematic equations Elisabeth Pope HS Lab Physics
LEARNING AND SIMULATING PROJECTILE MOTION Yuriy Pinelis UG-Intro HW Physics
Projectile Motion Patrick Foley HS Lab Physics
Projectile Motion - Fired at an Angle David Carroll HS
UG-Intro
HW
Lab
Physics
Projectile Motion Homework Danny Rehn UG-Adv HW
Linear and Quadratic Functions: analysis using graphing unkown unknown HS HW Mathematics
Projectile Motion Sarah Stanhope HS
UG-Intro
Lab
Understanding Projectile Motion Nathan Balasubramanian HS Lab Physics
Projectile Motion Simulator Worksheet Shannon Wallace HS CQs
Determination of angle of projection for maximum range Vincent Kizza HS Lab Physics
Projectile Motion: Gravity & Air Resistance Steve Reeves HS Lab Physics
Projectile Motion Lab #2 Chris Cochran MS Lab Mathematics
Physics
Projectile Motion Lab Exploration Jason Rott HS Lab Physics
Projectile Motion Investigation Robert Kennedy HS Lab Physics
Projectiles Air Resistance - It's a Drag David Moutoux HS Lab
Quantitative Predictions of Projectile Motion Scott McCurdy UG-Intro
HS
Demo
HW
Lab
Physics
Projectile launch angle vs displacement Mick O'Byrne HS HW
Lab
Mathematics
Physics
Projectile Motion Phet Simulation Activity Drew Isola HS Lab
CQs
Projectile Motion and Air Resistance Adrian Carmichael HS Lab
Investigating Projectile Motion John Scruggs HS Lab
Projectile Simuation Brad Boyle HS Lab Physics
Exploring Projectile Motion Cheri Wright HS Lab Physics
Projectile Motion Formal Lab Development and Report Michael Poynter HS Lab Physics
Projectile Motion: The Basic Flight Path Steve Reeves HS Lab Physics
Projectile Motion Exploration curt miller HS Lab Physics
Projectile Motion Investigation Jessica Mullins HS Lab Physics
SBL-Projectile Motion Yuli Estrian HS
MS
Guided Physics
Lançamento Oblíquo Emilene Eichelberger HS Guided Physics
Movimento de projéteis y' e y" HS Other Physics
Practica de Movimiento Parabolico walter Manuel Trujillo Yaipen UG-Adv
MS
UG-Intro
Grad
HS
Other
Lab
Guided
HW
Physics
Practica Tiro Parabolico (traduccion) Gerardo Sarmiento HS
MS
Guided
Lab
Physics

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Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Michael Dubson (developer/lead)
  • Interviewer: Wendy Adams