Projectile Motion
From Algodoo
Projectile Motion
| Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Description: | This lesson is designed to help students visualize and practice projectile motion calculations. |
| Target: | Key Stage 4, Key Stage 5 |
| Category: | Exercise |
| Discipline: | Gravity |
| Learning objectives: |
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| In class: | Students should be familiar with the idea of projectile motion before engaging this lesson.
Review with students what projectile motion is and how it is comprised of an x-component and a y-component. Be sure students realize that the two components are independent of each other. If felt needed, work a practice problem with students. |
Steps in Algodoo
CREATE A SCENE
Open the scene ‘Projectile Motion Practice’ above.
MAKE A PREDICTION
Before you play the sim, calculate the distance the purple ball will travel when the simulation will started.
RUN/INTERACT
Once you have calculated a value, start the simulation. Once both objects have hit the meter stick, pause the simulation again. Look at the distance the purple ball traveled and check your calculations. Do not move on until your calculations match the results.
EVALUATE
If your calculations are correct, look at the distance the green ball traveled. Based on this distance, calculate the velocity the object was launched at.
REVISE SCENE
Reset the simulation so the objects are back on their ledges. Then adjust the value for gravity (in the options menu) to 5 m/s instead of 9.8 m/s.
MAKE A PREDICTION
Predict how you think this will affect the distance each object travels. Be specific (they will travel twice as far, a third as far, etc). Then calculate the new values for these distances.
RUN/INTERACT
Run the sim and compare the actual distances to your calculated distances and your predictions (Be sure your calculated values match the actual). Was your prediction correct? Why or why not?
