03/19/2009

 Unit 4: Projectile Motion
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bulletUnit Objectives:
bulletto understand and apply vector components to velocity and acceleration in the motion of projectiles
bulletto qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the motion of projectiles
bulletunderstand and explain the shape of the path of a projectile
bulletunderstand the independence and the interdependence of the vertical and horizontal components of motion
bulletto be able to solve problems involving horizontally launched projectiles
bulletto be able to solve problems involving projectiles launched at an angle
bullet 
 

bulletUnit Activities
bulletMini-lab/demo:  projectiles with a completely horizontal initial velocity
bulletvideo demos:  independence of dimensions:  "Shooter/Dropper"; Ballistics cars; "Monkey Gun"
bulletLab:  Projectile motion with the marble launcher--range vs. launch angle
bulletlab:  projectile motion with the marble launcher--range vs. launch velocity
bulletProject:  Catapults--"The Great Fling-off 2008"

 

bulletKey Terms and Equations
bulletprojectile
bullettrajectory
bulletrange
bulletmaximum height
bulletrange equation
bullethang time
bulletlaunch velocity
bulletHorizontal constant velocity component
bulletVertical velocity component
bullet 

 
 

bulletUnit Notes
bulletclick here to see this unit's power point presentations and pdf's

 
 

bulletHelpful Links
bullet "Physics of Projectile Motion" (Thinkquest)
bulletA brief history of how the study of projectile motion has evolved, and how values are calculated--good review, ending with a water balloon game!
bullet "What is Projectile Motion?"
bulleta great summary of the concept, including animated examples (monkey and banana)
bullet Java Applet--projectile motion
bulleta very nice applet that allows you to change several different variables and study the resulting change on the trajectory of a projectile.
bullet PhET Applet for projectile motion
bulletA GREAT quantitative applet--you can change angles, launch velocities, air resistance, and the mass and diameter of object.  You can also change the altitude when you are looking at air resistance
bulletHelp for calculating projectile motion quantities--the following links may help you if you need more assistance with projectile calculations:
bullet "Projectile motion, general solution"
bullet Hyperphysics--trajectory and projectile motion information
bullet velocity components
bulletCatapult simulation:  http://www.lcse.umn.edu/specs/labs/catapult/practice.html