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written by Walter Fendt
This Java applet demonstrates projectile motion. Set the initial speed, height, and mass of the projectile, the initial angle of the velocity, and the gravitational constant -- and view the resulting motion. Display options available include force vectors and potential/kinetic energies.

This resource is part of a large collection of physics applets available in a wide range of languages.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.4.2 of Java.
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Classical Mechanics
- Applications of Newton's Laws
- Motion in Two Dimensions
= Projectile Motion
- High School
- Lower Undergraduate
- Instructional Material
= Interactive Simulation
Appropriate Courses Categories Ratings
- Physical Science
- Physics First
- Conceptual Physics
- Algebra-based Physics
- AP Physics
- Lesson Plan
- Activity
- Laboratory
- New teachers
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Intended User:
Learner
Format:
application/java
Access Rights:
Free access
Restriction:
© 2000 Walter Fendt
Additional information is available.
Keywords:
acceleration, ballistic motion, motion, projectile motion, simulation
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created July 19, 2006 by swapna gurumani
Record Updated:
August 18, 2020 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
December 27, 2002
Other Collections:

Next Generation Science Standards

Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions (HS-PS2)

Students who demonstrate understanding can: (9-12)
  • Analyze data to support the claim that Newton's second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration. (HS-PS2-1)

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (K-12)

Developing and Using Models (K-12)
  • Modeling in 9–12 builds on K–8 and progresses to using, synthesizing, and developing models to predict and show relationships among variables between systems and their components in the natural and designed worlds. (9-12)
    • Use a model to provide mechanistic accounts of phenomena. (9-12)
Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking (5-12)
  • Mathematical and computational thinking at the 9–12 level builds on K–8 and progresses to using algebraic thinking and analysis, a range of linear and nonlinear functions including trigonometric functions, exponentials and logarithms, and computational tools for statistical analysis to analyze, represent, and model data. Simple computational simulations are created and used based on mathematical models of basic assumptions. (9-12)
    • Use mathematical representations of phenomena to describe explanations. (9-12)

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

2. The Nature of Mathematics

2B. Mathematics, Science, and Technology
  • 9-12: 2B/H3. Mathematics provides a precise language to describe objects and events and the relationships among them. In addition, mathematics provides tools for solving problems, analyzing data, and making logical arguments.

4. The Physical Setting

4F. Motion
  • 6-8: 4F/M3a. An unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed or direction of motion, or both.
  • 9-12: 4F/H8. Any object maintains a constant speed and direction of motion unless an unbalanced outside force acts on it.

9. The Mathematical World

9B. Symbolic Relationships
  • 9-12: 9B/H4. Tables, graphs, and symbols are alternative ways of representing data and relationships that can be translated from one to another.

11. Common Themes

11B. Models
  • 6-8: 11B/M2. Mathematical models can be displayed on a computer and then modified to see what happens.
  • 9-12: 11B/H1a. A mathematical model uses rules and relationships to describe and predict objects and events in the real world.

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Alignments

Standards for Mathematical Practice (K-12)

MP.2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
MP.4 Model with mathematics.

High School — Functions (9-12)

Interpreting Functions (9-12)
  • F-IF.6 Calculate and interpret the average rate of change of a function (presented symbolically or as a table) over a specified interval. Estimate the rate of change from a graph.
Linear, Quadratic, and Exponential Models? (9-12)
  • F-LE.1.c Recognize situations in which a quantity grows or decays by a constant percent rate per unit interval relative to another.
  • F-LE.5 Interpret the parameters in a linear or exponential function in terms of a context.

This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.


Topic: Kinematics: The Physics of Motion
Unit Title: Motion in More Than One Dimension

This simulation would be a good follow-up to the PhET projectile motion applet (above).  This item takes the learner to the next level by calculating maximum height, horizontal distance, magnitude of velocity, and total energy of a projected object.  Students will set initial height, speed, angle, and mass before firing their projectile. Appropriate for high school or gifted/talented middle school students.

Link to Unit:
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
W. Fendt, (2000), WWW Document, (https://www.walter-fendt.de/html5/phen/projectile_en.htm).
AJP/PRST-PER
W. Fendt, Walter Fendt Physics Applets: Projectile Motion (2000), <https://www.walter-fendt.de/html5/phen/projectile_en.htm>.
APA Format
Fendt, W. (2002, December 27). Walter Fendt Physics Applets: Projectile Motion. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https://www.walter-fendt.de/html5/phen/projectile_en.htm
Chicago Format
Fendt, Walter. Walter Fendt Physics Applets: Projectile Motion. December 27, 2002. https://www.walter-fendt.de/html5/phen/projectile_en.htm (accessed 2 December 2024).
MLA Format
Fendt, Walter. Walter Fendt Physics Applets: Projectile Motion. 2000. 27 Dec. 2002. 2 Dec. 2024 <https://www.walter-fendt.de/html5/phen/projectile_en.htm>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Author = "Walter Fendt", Title = {Walter Fendt Physics Applets: Projectile Motion}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {2 December 2024}, Month = {December 27, 2002}, Year = {2000} }
Refer Export Format

%A Walter Fendt %T Walter Fendt Physics Applets: Projectile Motion %D December 27, 2002 %U https://www.walter-fendt.de/html5/phen/projectile_en.htm %O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Fendt, Walter %D December 27, 2002 %T Walter Fendt Physics Applets: Projectile Motion %V 2024 %N 2 December 2024 %8 December 27, 2002 %9 application/java %U https://www.walter-fendt.de/html5/phen/projectile_en.htm


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Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

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