Virtual Lab on Projectile Motion
Lab worksheet slightly modified from lab by Gary Richert from Hazelwood School District in Missouri, found on
September 10, 2007 at http://www.hazelwood.k12.mo.us/~grichert/sciweb/projdoc.htm
Start by opening one of several simulation sites:
http://csip.cornell.edu/curriculum_resources/CSIP/Bernier&Fogleman/projectile.html
(scroll to the very bottom of the page)
Set-up:
 Check the box titled "Show Trails"
 Do not check the box titled "Air Resistance" (we will investigate this effect on projectile motion later)
 In the velocity box type in an initial velocity of 50 m/s
 In the angle box type in 45 degrees
 In the mass box type in 1 kilogram
Procedure A: What is the effect of mass on the motion of a projectile?
1. Press the "fire" button to launch your first projectile.
2. At the top of the screen, read and record the projectile's statistics in the first table (max range, max elevation, end
velocity, and total time).
3. Change the mass to 5 kg and then 20 kg and repeat the launch. Make sure not to change any of the other
variables. Answer the questions for this part.
Procedure B: What is the effect of Initial Velocity on the motion of a projectile?
4. Refresh the web page and set these variables: Mass = 5 kg and Angle = 45o
5. Change the initial velocity to fill in the second table and answer the questions.
Procedure C: What is the effect of Launch Angle on the motion of a projectile?
6. Refresh the web page and set these variables: Mass = 5 kg and Initial Velocity = 50 m/s
7. Change the angle to fill in the third table and answer the questions.
Procedure D: What is the effect of air resistance on the motion of a projectile?
8. Refresh the web page and set this variable: Mass = 5 kg
9. Fill in the fourth table – turning on & off air resistance and changing the initial velocity and the angle.
Virtual Lab on Projectile Motion
Procedure A: What is the effect of mass on the motion of a projectile?
Mass of the
Maximum Range
Maximum Elevation
End Velocity
Projectile
(distance)
(height)
(kilograms)
(meters)
(meters)
Total Time
(m/s)
(s)
1
5
20
1. What affect does mass have on the motion characteristics listed in the table above? _______________________
2. How does the time to reach maximum elevation compare to the total time in the air? _____________________
Procedure B: What is the effect of Initial Velocity on the motion of a projectile?
Maximum Range
Initial Velocity
Maximum Elevation (height)
End Velocity
Total Time
(distance)
(m/s)
(meters)
(meters)
(m/s)
(s)
10
30
50
3. When the initial velocity is increased which other things also increase? ________________________________
4. How do the initial velocity and end velocity of the projectile compare for each launch? ____________________
5. What type of mathematical curve do these paths show? ____________________________________________
Procedure C: What is the effect of Launch Angle on the motion of a projectile?
Angle of Maximum Range
Maximum Elevation
End Velocity
Total Time
Launch
(distance)
(height)
(degrees)
(meters)
(meters)
(m/s)
(s)
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
You should notice four pairs of launch angles that produce the same maximum range. List them: ___ & ___,
___ & ___, ___ & ___, and ___ & ___. What is a general rule for these pairs? __________________________
7. A projectile is launched at an angle of 76o. What other angle will produce the same range? ________
8. At what angle would the maximum range (horizontal distance) be reached? ________(this is NOT in the table)
Procedure D: What is the effect of air resistance on the motion of a projectile?
Maximum Range Maximum Elev
End
Total
Air Resistance Initial Velocity
Angle
(distance)
(height)
Velocity
Time
6.
9.
(yes or no)
(m/s)
(degrees)
Yes
30
35
No
30
35
Yes
30
65
No
30
65
Yes
60
35
No
60
35
Yes
60
65
(meters)
(meters)
(m/s)
(s)
No
60
65
How does air resistance affect each of the following (answer with: increase, decrease or no effect.)
Range: ___________ Maximum Height___________ Total Time: ___________ End Velocity: ___________
Don’t forget the Lab Reflection Questions