Name _______________________________________________________
Naomi 11 IBC 1
Date ____________ Period ______
Projectile Motion Webquest
Type in the following website and answer the questions below.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/vectors/u3l2a.cfm
1. What is a projectile? Projectiles are objects where the only force that works is gravity.
2. Describe the 3 types of projectiles.
a. Object thrown vertically upward
b. Object thrown upward at an angle to the horizontal
c. Object dropped from rest
3. Draw the 3 examples of projectiles you see on the page.
1 2 3
4. What is the only force acting on a projectile?
Gravity
5. Without gravity, describe the motion of an object in regards to its’ speed and direction.
Inertia
Click on “Animation” below the first picture of the cannon.
The questions deal with the dilemma of where to aim when trying to hit a monkey with a banana. You will need
to click on the different situations that are listed below to answer all the questions.
6. In the absence of gravity, describe the path of the banana when shot at the monkey.
straight line
7. In the absence of gravity, where would you aim if you wanted to hit the monkey?
at the mokey
8. In the presence of gravity, describe the path of the banana if you aim above the monkey’s head.
parabolic path
9. Does the banana hit the monkey?
no 1
10. Does the banana hit the monkey if you aim straight at it?
yes
11. Can you hit the monkey at a fast speed with gravity on?
yes
12. Can you hit the monkey at a slow speed with gravity on?
yes
13. Do both the monkey and the banana experience the same acceleration?
yes
14. Explain in a few sentences why you can hit the monkey with the banana for both a fast and slow speed
when you aim directly at it?
Because gravity creates the same amount of acceleration
Click on “Characteristics of Projectile’s Trajectory” on the bottom of the page to go to “Lesson 2: Projectile
Motion.”
1. What are the two components of a projectiles motion?
vertical and horizontal motion
2. Draw and label the diagram of the cannonball being fired that shows the gravity - free path, vertical
path, and projectile motion path.
1
1. gravity - free path
2. projectile motion path
3. vertical path
3
2
3. Fill in the following table below
Horizontal motion Vertical motion
Forces not exist exist
Acceleration not exist exist
Velocity constant changing
2
Click on “Animation” underneath the table.
4. Does the cannonball experience a horizontal acceleration?
No
5. Does the cannonball experience a vertical acceleration?
yes
6. How would you describe the shape of the trajectory of a projectile?
parabolic
Click on the left side of the page to get to “The Plane and the Package.”
1. Once the package is dropped, what type of path does it take?
parabolic
2. Where does the package remain in relation to the plane?
below the plane
3. Does the package undergo a vertical acceleration, and if so what is it due to?
yes, due to gravity
4. Assuming the absence of air resistance, does the package undergo a horizontal acceleration?
no
5. If the plane is trying to make a supply drop, when would it release its’ supplies to hit the target below:
a. before the target
far from the target
b. directly above the target
nearly before the target
c. after the target
above the target
On the left side of the page, click on “The Truck and the Ball.”
1. Describe the path of the ball as it is shot from the truck.
parabolic
2. Is there horizontal force acting on the ball?
yes
3. Describe the velocity of the ball in the horizontal direction.
contant
3
SUMMARIZE: Write down a few sentences that summarizes what you learned about projectile motion. You
must include the following concepts:
Path of a projectile
parabolic
Forces acting on a projectile
downwards
Velocity of a projectile
always change
Acceleration of a projectile
increase constantly
Type in the following website: http://library.thinkquest.org/2779/Balloon.html
Answer the following questions.
1. How does the angle affect the distance of the balloon?
the link cannot be opened
2. How does the initial horizontal velocity affect the distance of the balloon?
3. How does air resistance affect the horizontal distance?
Type in the following web address:
http://www.bigideafun.com/penguins/arcade/spaced_penguin/info.htm
Follow the instructions, play the penguin game, and write a summary of how playing the game relates to
projectile motion.
Here’s another fun game you can try that deals with projectile motion.
http://www.jersey.uoregon.edu/vlab/Cannon/index.html
