University of Texas
Free-Body Diagram
Preparing for an AP test is about more than bubble sheets and memorization. The two activities in this resource require a direct application of skills learned throughout an AP Physics course.
Rice University
College Physics for AP® Courses
Take a look at an organized physics course. The 34-section electronic textbook covers material in AP® Physics 1 and 2. Teachers use the text to supplement lectures and have the class work through the labs. Each section contains multiple...
Curated OER
Trajectory Perplexity
Students investigate measuring angles correctly through projectiles. In this geometry lesson, students launch a projectile to investigate the importance of how to measure an angle correctly and to explore trajectory. They collect data...
Curated OER
Splatter Spread
Students assemble a potato cannon following directions. In groups, they analyze the spread pattern of paint soaked projectiles and discover the relationship between scatter and distance. They role play the role of a forensic scientist...
Curated OER
Designing and Building Catapults
Seventh graders complete a challenge to create a catapult that projects a marble or other projectile at least one meter. While experimenting they apply the Four Question Strategy to answer the question, " How can I make one modification...
Curated OER
The Physics of Skateboarding
Young scholars explore Newton's three laws, gravity, momentum, trajectory, projectiles, circular motion, and friction by observing and breaking down skateboard tricks. They view short video clips of Tony Hawk and explain the physics...
Curated OER
Interactive Physics
Students explore projectile motion by modeling that motion using Interactive Physics simulation software. They study horizontal and vertical velocity and solve basic problems related to projectile motion.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Trebuchet Toss
Young engineers work in teams to design and build their own trebuchets according to certain criteria; they must be able to launch a mini marshmallow accurately into a pie tin. Background reading material, a planning sheet for trebuchet...
NASA
Simulating Weightlessness
Floating across the top. Class groups examine the parabolas, written as parametric equations, that model the flight path of NASA's C-9 as it simulates weightlessness. They continue their exploration by changing the parameters to...
NASA
On Target
NASA's LCROSS mission is dropping a probe into a lunar crater. Groups design a system to travel down a zip line and drop a marble onto a target in the classroom. The groups then modify their designs based upon testing.
Colorado State University
Why Do Raindrops Sometimes Land Gently and Sometimes with a Splat?
A mouse can fall from large heights without injury! Air resistance is a large influence on small falling objects. In an exploratory lesson, young scholars build a raindrop bottle to compare the falling rate of different-sized objects.
K20 LEARN
Ace in the Hole
How does inertia affect an object's trajectory? After watching a video on safety belt use, pupils discuss the notions of inertia. Using their knowledge, individuals try to drop a ball on a target while running, and classmates observe the...
101 Questions
Blob Jump
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the case of the blob, that reaction is a trip several feet in the air! Learners begin by watching the world-record blob jump. They then analyze the flight of the person using...
Radford University
How to Calculate and Analyze the Equation for a Parabolic Path
Working in groups, pupils plot three points on the coordinate plane representing three different parabolic paths. Using a calculator, they determine the quadratic regression equation for their models. Each team then figures out the...
Curated OER
Arc of Ball To Make Basket
Pupils examine the mathematical relationship in scoring a basket. They observe the arc of the ball as it travels to the basket from different points on the floor.
Curated OER
So You Want to Hit a Home Run?
Students determine the center of percussion and the center of mass for a baseball bat. In this projective motion lesson plan students demonstrate the relationship between the position of the baseball bat and when its in the position in...
Curated OER
Creating Craters
Students explore parts of an impact crater and compare and contrast craters found in Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Crater formation is modelled and the relationship of mass, velocity, and size of the projectile to the crater formation is...
Mathematics Vision Project
Quadratic Equations
Through a variety of physical and theoretical situations, learners are led through the development of some of the deepest concepts in high school mathematics. Complex numbers, the fundamental theorem of algebra and rational exponents...
Curated OER
Spear Point Production
Students explore that prehistoric people had to have a good knowledge of the physical world around them in order to choose the best material for spear production. They also explore that prehistoric people were intelligent beings who...
Fall River Schools
Parabolas Are All Around Us
Moving parabolas off of graph paper and into the real world is the task at hand in this detailed poster project. First, learners perform a cumulative activity identifying many characteristics of an assigned quadratic equation. Next, they...
Urbana School District
Energy, Work, Simple Machines
The tension of the 236 strings in a grand piano exert a combined force of 20 tons on the cast iron frame. The presentation includes topics such as work, forms of energy, conservation of energy, gravitational and elastic potential energy,...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Average Rate of Change
The concept of slope gets an approachable, yet theoretical, treatment in a comprehensive algebra lesson. The use of functional notation and problem-solving techniques keep the material rigorous, but detailed teaching notes and lots of...
Curated OER
Ballistic Pendulum Lab
Students determine the muzzle velocity of projectile launcher. In this physics lesson plan, students compare the pendulum method and kinematic method in calculating the initial velocity. They analyze data and discuss results in class.
Curated OER
Aerodynamics of a Boomerang
Students examine how aerodynamic forces affect the flight of aircraft, animals and sports balls and projectiles (like a javelin or boomerang). They discover the origins of the boomerang and early usage in hunting.
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