Trajectory - Angle Launched Projectiles

The Trajectory - Angle Launched Projectiles Concept Builder is comprised of three different activities, each of which focuses on the changes or lack of changes that occur in the value of the horizontal and vertical components of a projectile's velocity over the course of its motion. The three different Activities are described as follows:
 

• Activity 1 - Horizontal and Vertical Speed  Question Groups 1- 6: Learners make comparisons and rankings of the horizontal and vertical speed of a projectile for several locations along the trajectory.
• Activity 2 - Vector Diagrams  Question Groups 7-9:  Learners identify the vector diagram for three locations along a projectile's trajectory when given the vector diagram for a fourth location on its trajectory.
• Activity 3 - Time, Time, Time   Question Groups 10-13:  Learners associate the values of the horizontal and vertical components of velocity as displayed in a vector diagram to a specific time in seconds.

Teachers are encouraged to either do the activity or view the questions (below) to make a judgement about the suitability of the activity for their classes. While we believe that the three Activities complement each other very well, each of the three can serve as stand-alone Activities that do not require the others as pre-requisites or follow-up Activities.

The Physics Classroom grants teachers and other users the right to print these questions for private use. Users are also granted the right to copy the text and modify it for their own use. However, this document should not be uploaded to other servers for distribution to and/or display by others. The Physics Classroom website should remain the only website or server from which the document is distributed or displayed. We also provide a PDF that teachers can use under the same conditions. We have included a link to the PDF near the bottom of this page.

 

 

Trajectory: Angle Launched Projectiles

 
Activity 1: Horizontal and Vertical Speed
Question Group 1:
Question 1:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Rank the three indicated locations based on increasing horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y).
 

 

Question 2:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Rank the three indicated locations based on increasing horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y).
 





Question 3:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Rank the three indicated locations based on increasing horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y).
 
 

 
 
 
Question Group 2:
Question 4:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Rank the three indicated locations based on increasing horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y).
 

 
 

Question 5:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Rank the three indicated locations based on increasing horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y).
 
 

 
 
 
Question 6:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Rank the three indicated locations based on increasing horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y).
 
 

 

 
Question Group 3:
Question 7:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Rank the three indicated locations based on increasing horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y).
 
 

 
 

Question 8:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Rank the three indicated locations based on increasing horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y), beginning with the smallest.
 

 

 
Question 9:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Rank the three indicated locations based on increasing horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y), beginning with the smallest.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Question Group 4:
Question 10:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Which phrases best describe the changes occurring to the horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y) as the ball travels from location A to location D?


Horizontal Speed (V_x):                                          
            Increases the entire time                                       
            Decreases the entire time                                     
            First increases, then decreases                           
            First decreases, then increases                           
            Never changes                                                       


Vertical Speed (Vy):                                          
            Increases the entire time                                       
            Decreases the entire time                                     
            First increases, then decreases                           
            First decreases, then increases                           
            Never changes                                                       ​



 

Question 11:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Which phrases best describe the changes occurring to the horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y) as the ball travels from location B to location E?
 
 
Horizontal Speed (V_x):                                          
            Increases the entire time                                       
            Decreases the entire time                                     
            First increases, then decreases                           
            First decreases, then increases                           
            Never changes                                                       


Vertical Speed (Vy):                                          
            Increases the entire time                                       
            Decreases the entire time                                     
            First increases, then decreases                           
            First decreases, then increases                           
            Never changes                                                       ​



 
Question 12:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Which phrases best describe the changes occurring to the horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y) as the ball travels from location A to location E?
 
Horizontal Speed (V_x):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes
 
Vertical Speed (V_y):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes




Question Group 5
Question 13:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Which phrases best describe the changes occurring to the horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y) as the ball travels from location E to location H?
 
Horizontal Speed (V_x):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes
 
Vertical Speed (V_y):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes


 

Question 14:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Which phrases best describe the changes occurring to the horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y) as the ball travels from location F to location I?

Horizontal Speed (V_x):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes
 
Vertical Speed (V_y):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes



Question 15:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Which phrases best describe the changes occurring to the horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y) as the ball travels from location E to location I?

Horizontal Speed (V_x):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes
 
Vertical Speed (V_y):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes
 



Question Group 6:
Question 16:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Which phrases best describe the changes occurring to the horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y) as the ball travels from location A to location H?
 
Horizontal Speed (V_x):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes
 
Vertical Speed (V_y):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes




Question 17:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Which phrases best describe the changes occurring to the horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y) as the ball travels from location B to location G?
 
Horizontal Speed (V_x):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes
 
Vertical Speed (V_y):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes



 
Question 18:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Which phrases best describe the changes occurring to the horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y) as the ball travels from location D to location H?
 
Horizontal Speed (V_x):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes
 
Vertical Speed (V_y):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes


 

Question 19:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. Which phrases best describe the changes occurring to the horizontal speed (V_x) and vertical speed (V_y) as the ball travels from location C to location I?
 
Horizontal Speed (V_x):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes
 
Vertical Speed (V_y):
Increases the entire time
Decreases the entire time
First increases, then decreases
First decreases, then increases
Never changes



 
Activity 2: Horizontal and Vertical Speed
Question Group 7:
Question 20:

A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. A set of horizontal velocity (V_x) and vertical velocity (V_y) vectors is shown for location B. Drag three of the six provided vector combinations to locations C, E, and H to accurately indicate the velocity vectors for these locations.

 

NOTE: The given graphic and the three correct answer options and three incorrect options are programmatically generated and vary from one user's experience to another.
 

 

 
Question 21:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. A set of horizontal velocity (V_x) and vertical velocity (V_y) vectors is shown for location C. Drag three of the six provided vector combinations to locations D, E, and G to accurately indicate the velocity vectors for these locations.
 
NOTE: The given graphic and the three correct answer options and three incorrect options are programmatically generated and vary from one user's experience to another.
 
 

Question 22:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. A set of horizontal velocity (V_x) and vertical velocity (V_y) vectors is shown for location D. Drag three of the six provided vector combinations to locations B, E, and F to accurately indicate the velocity vectors for these locations.

NOTE: The given graphic and the three correct answer options and three incorrect options are programmatically generated and vary from one user's experience to another.

Question Group 8:
Question 23:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. A set of horizontal velocity (V_x) and vertical velocity (V_y) vectors is shown for location H. Drag three of the six provided vector combinations to locations B, E, and G to accurately indicate the velocity vectors for these locations.

 

NOTE: The given graphic and the three correct answer options and three incorrect options are programmatically generated and vary from one user's experience to another.
 


 
Question 24:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. A set of horizontal velocity (V_x) and vertical velocity (V_y) vectors is shown for location G. Drag three of the six provided vector combinations to locations C, E, and H to accurately indicate the velocity vectors for these locations.

 

 
NOTE: The given graphic and the three correct answer options and three incorrect options are programmatically generated and vary from one user's experience to another.




Question 25:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. A set of horizontal velocity (V_x) and vertical velocity (V_y) vectors is shown for location F. Drag three of the six provided vector combinations to locations D, E, and H to accurately indicate the velocity vectors for these locations.

 

NOTE: The given graphic and the three correct answer options and three incorrect options are programmatically generated and vary from one user's experience to another.
 
 


Question Group 9:
Question 26:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. A set of horizontal velocity (V_x) and vertical velocity (V_y) vectors is shown for location A. Drag three of the six provided vector combinations to locations C, F, and H to accurately indicate the velocity vectors for these locations.

 

NOTE: The given graphic and the three correct answer options and three incorrect options are programmatically generated and vary from one user's experience to another.




Question 27:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. A set of horizontal velocity (V_x) and vertical velocity (V_y) vectors is shown for location A. Drag three of the six provided vector combinations to locations B, D, and G to accurately indicate the velocity vectors for these locations.

 

NOTE: The given graphic and the three correct answer options and three incorrect options are programmatically generated and vary from one user's experience to another.
 

 
 
Question 28:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. A set of horizontal velocity (V_x) and vertical velocity (V_y) vectors is shown for location I. Drag three of the six provided vector combinations to locations B, D, and G to accurately indicate the velocity vectors for these locations.

 

NOTE: The given graphic and the three correct answer options and three incorrect options are programmatically generated and vary from one user's experience to another.
 


 
Question 29:
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram shows its location at 1-second intervals. A set of horizontal velocity (V_x) and vertical velocity (V_y) vectors is shown for location I. Drag three of the six provided vector combinations to locations C, F, and H to accurately indicate the velocity vectors for these locations.

 

 
NOTE: The given graphic and the three correct answer options and three incorrect options are programmatically generated and vary from one user's experience to another.
 
 
 
 

Activity 3 – Time, Time, Time
Question Group 10

Question 30 - 32
A ball is launched upward at an angle. The diagram at the right shows approximate values of the horizontal and vertical velocity vectors and values at a time of 0.0 seconds. Match the three timers to three of the provided velocity vectors. Drag to a vector and release.