Name: __________________________
Date: _______________
Period: ____
PROJECTILE MOTION PhET Simulation
Pre-Lab Investigation (This must be done before beginning lab)
What Do You Think?
One day after school you are enjoying a can of soda. After it’s empty you decide to toss it in the trashcan.
What variables determine whether or not you make the shot?
Key Projectile Motion Measurements
Write out a definition for each term below.

Range –

Height –

Time –
Prediction Table
Complete the table below by listing what YOU THINK are the variables involved in projectile motion and
describe what YOU THINK their effect will be on the flight path.
Variable
Predicted Effect of Variable On Motion of Projectile
Lab Activity – Online Simulation
Open up the University of Colorado, PhET Projectile Motion simulation
(http://phet.colorado.edu/new/index.php)
Spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the controls of the simulation before you begin the lab below.
Test Your Predictions
Use the simulation to test your predictions. Fill in the table below with the variables and their effect on the
motion of the projectile.
Variable
Actual Effect of Variable On Motion of Projectile
Design a Test:
You’ve heard the claim that a bullet shot horizontally will strike the ground at the same time as a bullet dropped
from the same height. Use the PhET simulation to test this theory.
1. Describe IN DETAIL what you did to the variables on the simulation to test the theory:
2. Record your findings (time of flight, distances, angles, etc):
3. Did you prove or disprove the claim?
Conclusion Questions:
Compare your predicted effects with your actual effects and answer the following questions.
1. List and explain the predictions that you found to be incorrect after performing the test.
2. Name at least two things that surprised you about projectile motion after performing the test.
3. Draw a picture of a typical path of a projectile. Label all the key terms, including any necessary
explanations
4. You should have found that launch angle is a key variable.
a. What angle causes the largest height?
b. What angle causes the largest range?
Projectiles Simulation:
1. Sketch what you think the graph of these projected objects will look like:
2. Try it. Launch a tank-shell at a 75-degree angle. What does function look like? Sketch it.
3. What type of function is modeled by these projected objects?_________________
4. Are these functions positive or negative?________________________
5.
When you launch a baseball at a 65-degree angle you are given values for Range, Height and Time.
Record these values.
6. What are these values? (HINT think graphically…and no not the gory kind, but the math kind)
7.
If you launch a bowling ball at a 60-degree angle, how far do you think it will go? Try it. Record the
range.
8. Do you think this distance will change when you launch a heavier object? WHY or WHY NOT?
9. Try it…launch a human…sketch the graph….how about a Buick…. Did the graph change from object to
object? Why is this?
10. Can you hit the target with a pumpkin? What was the angle needed? How many tries did it take you to
make it?
11. Fire a shot at 80-degrees. Record the range, height and time this shot took to complete it’s journey.
Range:________ Height:_________ Time:________
12. LEAVING the shot from step 8, fire another shot at 70-degrees so you have both functions showing.
Record the range, height and time this shot took to complete it’s journey.
Range:________ Height:_________ Time:________
13. Compare and contrast the relationship between range, height and time using the information from steps
11 and 12.
14. Now, using the meter stick, estimate the intersection of these two graphs in meters. Sketch the graphs
and label the intersection as an ordered pair.
15. What can you think of in your life that would follow this same type of path? Explain how you could
apply/use what you have learned in this lab in a real-world situation.