Physics 1 Notes

Projectile Motion - Overview

BHS -> Mr. Stanbrough -> Physics -> Mechanics ->this page

Projectile Motion Table of Contents:

For a detailed list of expectations, see Terms and Objectives.

• Concepts
  • Vectors & Scalars
    • Difference between vectors and scalars
    • Addition of Vectors
    • Vector Components
  • Projectiles
    • Concept Summary (PowerPoint) (download)
    • Object projected horizontally
      • Separating the horizontal and vertical motions
      • Calculating the position of the projectile
      • Calculating the velocity of the projectile
      • Quiz over projectiles launched horizontally
    • Object projected at an angle to the horizontal
      • Calculating the position of the projectile
        • component method
        • distance fallen method
      • How does range depend on angle of launch?
        • Maximum range
      • Quiz on projectiles launched at an angle
    • Why do projectiles act like that?
      • Frames of reference and projectiles
    • Solving Projectile Problems Using a Spreadsheet
      • A "Basic" Projectile Spreadsheet
      • An "Enhanced" Projectile Spreadsheet
      • Example 1 - Horizontally-launched projectile
      • Example 2 - Projectile launched at an angle
• Labs and Activities:
  • Velocity Vectors:
    • Relative Velocity in One Dimension
    • Relative Velocity in Two Dimensions
    • Components of a Vector - An excellent Java-based activity
    • Vector Sums - An excellent Java-based activity
    • Horizontally-launched projectiles - there are three labs that are very similar, but have different "degrees of difficulty":
      • Projectiles - Horizontal Launch - Do these equations really work? This is the easiest of the three. You calculate the height of fall from the initial velocity and range of the projectile.
      • Range of a Projectile Lab 1 - Predicting the range of a projectile from the initial velocity and launch height. The mathematics is slightly more involved.
      • Target Practice Lab - Hit a tin can on the first try! This is fun, but only for the better student. The tension builds!
    • Projectiles launched at an angle to the horizontal
      • Range of a Projectile Lab 2 - A guided approach, with data table supplied
      • Range of a Projectile Lab 2 - Students design their own lab.
    • "Human" Vector Components
    • Projectile Cart
• Demonstrations
  • Path of a Projectile
  • Range of a Projectile
  • The Monkey and the Hunter
• Supplements
  • Video - "Concerning Falling Bodies & Projectiles" - Professor Julius Summner Miller
  • LaserDisk - "Physics Notes" - frame 27088 - bowling ball demo
  • LaserDisk - Best of Conceptual Physics - Ch 12 & 13 (vectors, 2 min), Ch 14 & 15 (projectiles, 2.5 min)
  • Video - "Victory with Vectors", ESPN SportsFigures 2003-2004, Show #4 - uses "i-j-k" component notation and "tip-to-tail" addition
  • Video - "Hang Time" - ESPN SportsFigures 2000 Show #1 - Trajectories, gravity, motion in 2 dimensions
  • Java Applet "Projectile Orbits and Satellite Orbits" - allows you to adjust the initial speed of a projectile and see the resulting trajectory around the Earth.
• Related Web Sites
  • Projectile Motion Applet - another well-done cannon simulation from Michigan State University.
  • Projectile Motion Applet - from PHET
  • The Physics Department - Mechanics, Vectors - from Zona Land. Well done.

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