Projectile Motion Lab
Launch a projectile and explore its trajectory under constant gravity.
Explore the lab
What you can explore
- Launch angle
Change θ and observe the trajectory shape, maximum height and horizontal range.
- Initial velocity and height
Change launch speed or starting height to compare flight time, apex and landing position.
- Velocity components
Display vx/vy vectors and inspect how horizontal and vertical velocity evolve during flight.
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The model
Formula and underlying model
x(t) = v₀ cos(θ)t; y(t) = h₀ + v₀ sin(θ)t − ½gt²
vx = v₀ cos(θ); vy = v₀ sin(θ) − gt- x, y
- Position relative to launch x and ground y (m)
- v₀
- Initial speed (m/s)
- θ
- Launch angle; entered in degrees (radians in formula)
- h₀
- Initial height above ground (m)
- g
- Gravitational acceleration (m/s²)
- t
- Elapsed time (s)
Constant downward gravity with no air resistance. Mass is display-only. Flight ends at ground level; equal complementary-angle ranges apply when h₀=0.
The experiment
How it works
Set the launch
Choose speed, angle, height and gravity.
Follow the flight
Play or scrub time to inspect the path and velocity components.
Compare the landing
Read range, flight time and maximum height for each launch.
Learning outcomes
What you’ll learn
- Explain how launch angle affects trajectory and range.
- Distinguish horizontal and vertical velocity components.
- Connect flight measurements to the position equations.
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Explore lab →Ready to experiment?
Explore Projectile Motion interactively
Open the lab, adjust the parameters, and see the results change in real time.