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Physics · 2D Dynamics
Projectile Motion Vector Lab
Fire the cannon and turn on the vectors. Watch which part of the velocity changes during the flight, and which part never does.
2. Fire and watch the vectors
The flight
- Time
- Across, x
- Height, y
- Speed, |v|
- vx
- vy
- Acceleration
- Direction
3. Read the graph
Velocity components versus time
The graph draws itself during the flight. A flat line means a component that does not change; the slope of the vy line is the acceleration.
Flight results
- Time in the air
- Highest point
- Distance across (range)
- Landing velocity
4. Check your thinking
Test each idea with the vectors
5. Make sense of it
Why does only one component change?
Turn on the components, the acceleration and the snapshots, then launch with Pause at the top.
What happens to vx and to vy during the flight? Which way does the acceleration point, and how does that explain what each component does?
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