Projectile motion · AS Level Physics 9702 Simulation

About this lab: Projectile motion

Interactive simulation for Cambridge AS and A Level Physics 9702 projectile motion: launch a ball at any speed, angle and height and watch the velocity split into a constant horizontal component and a vertical component that changes by g every second, drop one ball while firing another sideways to prove the two motions are independent with x-t, y-t, vx-t and vy-t graphs, sweep the launch angle to see range peak at 45 degrees on level ground and lower from a height, solve real situations (a ball rolling off a table, the two angles that hit a target, clearing a wall), add quadratic air resistance for golf balls, footballs and shuttlecocks, and read a full worked solution with every substitution shown. Fired from a cannon that turns with the launch angle or from an archer’s bow, with cannonballs, footballs, pumpkins and a human cannonball, ground shadows for depth, and a 3D cannon field where you set bearing and elevation to land the ball in a target ring.

One lab for every kind of projectile question: launch and components, the independence of horizontal and vertical motion, range against angle, balls off tables, targets and walls, air resistance, a worked exam-style solution, and a 3D cannon field you aim by bearing and elevation

Projectile motion is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics 9702 (topic 2 Kinematics). The course is assessed in Paper 1 (multiple choice), Paper 2 (AS structured), Paper 3 (advanced practical), Paper 4 (A Level structured) and Paper 5 (planning, analysis and evaluation). There are 7 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.

Syllabus coverage

2.1 Equations of motion: Distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration; Displacement from area under a velocity-time graph; Velocity from gradient of a displacement-time graph; Deriving the equations of uniformly accelerated motion; Free fall: the experiment to determine g; Projectile motion: combining uniform velocity and uniform acceleration. Lessons: Linear motion and graphs, Equations of motion, Projectile motion.

Full syllabus map: AS Level Physics 9702 topic 2.

How to use this simulation

1. Intro.
2. Two motions.
3. Range and angle.
4. Real situations.
5. Air resistance.
6. Worked solution.
7. 3D cannon.
The buttons at the end of the tab strip give the scene the whole window (Full screen, Hide controls) and, on a dark stage, a projector-friendly palette (Light scene). Many scenes also have drag handles: drag them to change the set-up directly.

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