Projectile Motion Unit, Simulation Lab, Powerpoints, Wksht, Quiz

This unit covers horizontally launched projectiles. It includes:

1. An intro powerpoint that asks students to predict the path of a ball rolling off a cliff
2. Projectile motion lab using a free, online simulation (simulation can be downloaded ahead of time and run locally on a Mac, PC or Linux machine, negating need for internet)
3. Powerpoint (14 slides) that details the physics of projectile motion (horizontal launch)
4. Worksheet that reinforces lab and notes
5. Homework essay assignment
6. Quiz
7. Learning objectives
8. Teacher Guide

The powerpoints include animations that allow the teacher to emphasize important points avoiding the head down, madly copying syndrome from putting up powerpoint slides with too much information. The powerpoint after the lab includes a slide that walks the student through two cannon balls - one launched horizontally off of a cliff and the other dropped off the cliff.

The lab is inquiry based and asks students to create a procedure to test the effect of initial horizontal velocity on the time it takes an object to strike the ground. The lab includes screenshots and the simulation is free and very high interest. Students love using the PhET simulations! You can craft the lab to emphasize other points as well - for instance, the effect of mass, the effect on range.

The worksheet asks students to sketch paths of projectiles, compare projectiles with great initial velocity with projectiles with little or no projectile motion; and has prompts for students wanting/needing a little more challenge.

The quiz is multiple choice and also asks students to predict an outcome or explain their thinking to avoid guessing.

Worksheet and quiz come with an answer key.

This unit is usually a two to three day unit (55 min classes) - depending on your student's background knowledge, ability to work independently, and whether or not you have them do the collaborative work in the lab.

The preview file is a pdf version of the larger powerpoint as well as the lab and teacher's guide.