Projectile Motion PhET

Directions: Open the Projectile Motion simulation and go to the Intro section. Set the angle of launch to 45 degrees and launch the projectile. What happens to the projectile's motion when it is launched at a 45-degree angle?

• A) The projectile moves in a straight line.

• B) The projectile follows a curved path called a parabola.

• C) The projectile falls straight down.

• D) The projectile moves horizontally only.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

Instructions: Adjust the launch speed and observe the changes in the projectile's path. Question: What happens when you increase the launch speed of the projectile?

• A) The projectile travels a shorter distance.

• B) The projectile's path becomes steeper.

• C) The projectile travels a greater distance.

• D) The projectile’s trajectory becomes horizontal.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

Instructions: Change the angle of launch to 30 degrees and launch the projectile. How does launching the projectile at a smaller angle (30 degrees) affect the range compared to a 45-degree launch?

• A) The range increases.

• B) The range decreases.

• C) The range stays the same.

• D) The projectile doesn't move.

Instructions: Launch the projectile at different angles (15°, 30°, 45°, 60°) and observe the range. What angle gives the projectile the longest range in the Intro section?

• A) 15 degrees

• B) 30 degrees

• C) 45 degrees

• D) 60 degrees

Directions: Switch to the Vectors section, where you can view the velocity components of the projectile. What does the horizontal velocity component of the projectile do throughout its flight?

• A) It increases as the projectile moves.

• B) It decreases due to air resistance.

• C) It remains constant throughout the flight.

• D) It fluctuates and changes direction.

Instructions: Observe the vertical velocity component of the projectile as it moves upward and then downward. What happens to the vertical velocity of the projectile at its highest point?

• A) It is at its maximum positive value.

• B) It is zero.

• C) It is at its maximum negative value.

• D) It continues to increase.

Instructions: Launch the projectile at an angle and observe both the horizontal and vertical velocity components. What effect does launching the projectile at a steeper angle (closer to 90 degrees) have on the vertical velocity component?

• A) It reduces the vertical velocity component.

• B) It increases the vertical velocity component.

• C) It has no effect on the vertical velocity.

• D) It causes the vertical velocity component to fluctuate.

Directions: Switch to the Drag section and observe the effects of air resistance on the projectile’s motion. What happens to the range of the projectile when drag is applied?

• A) The range increases.

• B) The range decreases.

• C) The range stays the same.

• D) The projectile doesn’t move.

Instructions: Observe the difference in the projectile’s path with and without air resistance. How does air resistance affect the shape of the projectile’s path compared to no drag?

• A) The path becomes more curved.

• B) The path becomes steeper and shorter.

• C) The path becomes straighter.

• D) The path remains the same.

Instructions: Increase the air resistance and observe the changes in the projectile's motion. What happens when you increase the drag force in the Drag section?

• A) The projectile reaches a higher altitude.

• B) The projectile travels farther.

• C) The projectile’s speed and range decrease.

• D) The projectile’s path becomes horizontal.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1