Lesson Plan
Berkeley Engineering and Mentors

Marshmallow Catapaults

For Teachers 4th - 10th
After a brief lecture on levers, torque, projectiles, and the five-step engineering design cycle, young physical science learners or engineers build catapults out of craft sticks. This is an open-ended exploration of what works and what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ballistic Pendulum Lab

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Learners determine the muzzle velocity of projectile launcher. In this physics instructional activity, students compare the pendulum method and kinematic method in calculating the initial velocity. They analyze data and discuss results...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Particle Models in Two Dimensions

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
In this motion worksheet, young scholars draw and label the trajectory of objects including the x-component and y-component of the velocity. Students calculate acceleration and speed. This worksheet has 7 problems to solve.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Galileo: His Times & Beliefs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study Galileo and his scientific discoveries. They complete a series of experiments/model constructions, using 17th century equipment and procedures, to "recreate," demonstrate and explore the various discoveries of Galileo.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Graphs of Quadratic Functions

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
How high is too high for a belly flop? Learners analyze data to model the world record belly flop using a quadratic equation. They create a graph and analyze the key features and apply them to the context of the video.
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Catapult

For Students 4th - 12th
Studying levers couldn't be more exciting! Learners build their own catapults and test the results as they make adjustments to the fulcrum. They compete against other groups to create the most accurate apparatus.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exterior Ballistics

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars explore velocity and trajectory. Using exterior ballistics rules, students predetermine the path of an artillery shell. Given equations and the firing angle, young scholars determine the velocity and horizontal travel. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gravity, Angles, and Measurement

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students relate math to real life scenarios. In this geometry lesson, students launch a ball tracking each launch using a graph. They analyze their data for speed, angles and distance, trying to improve on each launch.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Race the Track! Jump the Gap

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students record data of using a track system with variables and how those variables affect a ball used in the track. In this track lesson plan, students design their own track in groups, test the ball's rates of speed, and record their...
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physics: Projectile Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] A large collection of resources for learning about projectile motion. Includes learning modules, simulations, videos, a study guide, and practice activities.
Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Kinematics in Two Dimensions: Projectile Motion

For Students 11th - 12th
By the end of this section, you will be able to identify and explain the properties of a projectile, such as acceleration due to gravity, range, maximum height, and trajectory; determine the location and velocity of a projectile at...
Unit Plan
OpenStax

Open Stax: Projectile Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
The following interactive helps students understan how to identify and xplain the properties of a projectile, such as acceleration due to gravity, range, maximum height, and trajectory. They will determine the location and velocity of a...
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Episd: Projectile Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Applying mathematic equations, study how two dimensional acceleration and projectile motion are calculated.
Unit Plan
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Projectile Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
Scroll down to Lesson 2 for a complete tutorial on projectile motion. Content covered in these tutorials includes an explanation of what a projectile is, what the characteristics of a projectile's trajectory are, horizontal and vertical...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Projectile Motion

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students are introduced to the concept of projectile motion, of which they are often familiar from life experiences,such as playing sports such as basketball or baseball, even though they may not understand the physics involved. Students...
Activity
Other

Institute of Physics: Testing Projectile Motion With a Drawn Parabola

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a demonstration which shows that motion can be predicted through testing projectile motion with a drawn parabola.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Motion/forces in Two Dimensions: Projectile's Trajectory

For Students 9th - 10th
This illustrated tutorial discusses the horizontal and vertical components of a projectile's motion; specific attention will be given to the presence/absence of forces, accelerations, and velocity.
Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physics: Motion Study Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
This study guide on motion covers some key vocabulary and terms to describe motion: displacement vs. distance, acceleration, speed vs. velocity, and instantaneous vs. average. It includes graphs showing distance vs. time, velocity vs....
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Projectile Motion With Angry Birds

For Students 9th - 10th
Analyze the path of a bird's flight as it attempts to obliterate pigs in the well-known game, Angry Birds. Comes with lab activities, a video, and a simulation. The latter requires software called Tracker, which is free to download.
Lesson Plan
Google

Google for Education: Modeling Projectile Motion Using Computational Thinking

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this demonstration, students see how they can model the phenomenon of projectiile motion with computational thinking in order to make predictions and better understand the concepts.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Motion and Forces in Two Dimensions: What Is a Projectile

For Students 9th - 10th
Students apply both kinematic principles and Newton's laws of motion to understand and explain the motion of objects moving in two dimensions, more specifically, the motion of projectiles.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Projectile Motion: Creating a Catapult

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson is for 9th grade physical science students. It begins with an inquiry-based lesson using a projectile motion computer simulation. It culminates with students building a catapult; applying and connecting science knowledge from...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Water Fountain

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about projectile motion and its relevance to the shape of a stream of water.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Projectile Motion

For Students 7th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Projectile motion and combining forces, examples of projectile motion.