Webquest 03: Webquest on Projectile Motion
AP Physics
You will be using the following website for this quest…
http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph14e/projectile.htm
Name ___________________________ Per ____ Date _________ Score:
Out of 23
Directions: Open the web site listed above.
Set-up:
1.
2.
3.
4.
In the velocity box type in an initial velocity of 30 m/s.
In the angle box type in 55 degrees.
In the mass box type in 1 kilogram.
You will need to check the coordinates box to see the projectile location (x and y displacement
from origin). You will need to check the velocity box in order to see the velocity vectors and
statistics.
Procedure A: What is the effect of mass on the motion of a projectile?
1. Press the "start” button to launch your first projectile.
(1 pt)
2. Describe the shape of the path the projectile traces onto the screen. ____________________
3. At the top of the screen, read and record the projectile's statistics in the table below. Again you
may have to click different check boxes to see distances (coordinate button) and velocities (velocity
button).
Vi = 50 m/s Angle = 55o
Mass of the
Projectile
(kilograms)
Maximum Range
Maximum
(distance)
Elevation (height)
(meters)
(meters)
End Velocity
Total Time
(m/s)
(s)
1
2
5
10
4. Investigate the effect of mass on the projectile motion by typing in the masses shown in the table
above. Do not change any other variables.
What affect does mass have on the motion characteristics listed in the table above? ______________
(1 pt)
Explain your answer using Newton's Laws of Motion (look it up).
(2 pt)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
What amount of time do you estimate for the projectile to reach its Maximum Elevation?
(1 pt)
_____________s
Webquest 03
Procedure B: What is the effect of Initial Velocity on the motion of a projectile?
Mass = 5 kg & Angle = 45o
Initial
Velocity
Maximum Range
(distance)
(m/s)
(meters)
Maximum Elevation
(height)
(meters)
End Velocity
Total Time
(m/s)
(s)
10
20
30
40
50
7. When the velocity was increased which of the data table measurements of the projectile motion also
increases?
(1 pt)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
8. How does the initial velocity and end velocity of the projectile compare for each launch?
(1 pt)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Procedure C: What is the effect of Launch Angle on the motion of a projectile?
Mass = 5 kg & Init. Velocity = 50 m/s
Angle of
Launch
Maximum
Range
(distance)
(degrees)
(meters)
Maximum Elevation
(height)
(meters)
End Velocity
Total Time
(m/s)
(s)
10
20
30
40
45
50
60
70
80
90
1. At what angle was the maximum range (horizontal distance) reached? ___________
Page 2 of 4
(1 pt)
Webquest 03
2. At what angle was the maximum elevation achieved? ________________
(1 pt)
3. At what angle was the greatest "hang" time achieved? _______________
(1 pt)
4. Compare the maximum range (horizontal distance) reached for these pairs of launch angles.
(2 pt)
10o = __________ meters and 80o = __________ meters
20o = __________ meters and 70o = __________ meters
What pattern is observed for these angles and their maximum ranges? ___________________
(1 pt)
What is the sum of these angle pairs? ________________
(1 pt)
Procedure D: What is the effect of Launch Height on the Angle of Maximum Range?
Mass = 5 kg
Init. Velocity = 20 m/s
Height
of
Launch
Maximum Range
Acheived(distance)
Angle the Provided
Maximum Range
(degrees)
(meters)
(meters)
(meters)
10
20
40
60
80
100
90
1. What is the general trend for angle of maximum range as you increase your launch height?
(1 pt)
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Do you feel that there would be a height that would require a launcher to be pointed below the
horizontal in order to achieve an angle of maximum range? Why or why not?
(1 pt)
__________________________________________________________________________
3. What would you predict for the angle of maximum range for a launch that occurred below the altitude
in which the projectile landed?
(1 pt)
___________________________________________________________________________
Page 3 of 4
Webquest 03
Procedure E: What is the effect of air resistance on the motion of a projectile?
For this part you will need to got to the following web page
http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/109N/more_stuff/Applets/Projec
tileMotion/jarapplet.html
Mass = 5 kg Init. Velocity = 10 m/s
Air
Initial
Angle
Resistance Velocity
(yes or no)
(m/s)
No
10
30
Yes
10
30
No
10
40
Yes
10
40
No
10
45
Yes
10
45
No
10
50
Yes
10
50
No
10
60
Yes
10
60
Final
Maximum Maximum
Horizontal
Range Elevation
Velocity
(distance) (height)
(vx)
(meters)
(meters)
(m/s)
Final
Vertical
Velocity
(vy)
End
Velocity
Total
Time
(m/s)
(m/s)
(s)
What seems to be the over-all effect of air resistance on these characteristics of projectile
motion: (Answer with: increase, decrease or no effect.)
(2 pt)
a) Maximum Range: ____________
b) Maximum Height:____________
c) Total Time ("hang time"): _________
d) End Velocity: ______________
At what launch angles would you expect to see the most effects due to air resistance?
(1 pt)
_________________________________________________________________
Play around with the launch speed at a specific angle with air resistance. Describe what you
have found?
(1 pt)
_________________________________________________________________
Can you suggest a possible theory to explain the behavior and cause of air resistance?
(2 pt)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Summary: In your own words, state the concepts you learned about projectile motion from
this virtual lab investigation.
Page 4 of 4