Projectile Motion & Kinetic Energy

1 · Predict

If you launch the ball faster, how will its kinetic energy at launch and its maximum height change?

2 · Set Up

  1. Open the projectile simulation and press Reset.
  2. Enable the speed probe and the height readout — height is measured from the FLOOR, not the launch point, so it includes the ball's fixed 1.2 m launch height.
  3. Set the launch speed for each trial below, press Play, and record the peak values.

3 · Collect Data

Mass m (kg)Launch speed v (m/s)KE = ½mv² (J)Max height h (m)
1.008.00
1.0010.00
1.0012.00

Plot maximum height h (y-axis) against kinetic energy at launch KE (x-axis).

4 · Analyze

  1. Show your work computing KE = ½mv² for one trial and compare it to the simulation's kinetic-energy readout.
  2. Describe the relationship between launch kinetic energy and maximum height. Is it linear? Cite numbers from your table.

5 · Extend

  1. At a fixed speed, what launch angle gives the greatest maximum height? Explain why.
  2. Real projectiles don't reach the height your table predicts. Where does the missing energy go?

The Physics Behind This Experiment

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion at launch, from the mass and launch speed you set for each trial.

Gravitational Potential Energy

The energy stored at the ball's peak height, read from the ball's height above the FLOOR — not above the launch point. Because this launch is angled (not straight up), only the vertical component of the launch velocity converts to extra rise above launch: it carries 64% of the launch KE at this angle (the rest stays horizontal motion, still present at the peak). But the readout's height also includes the ball's fixed 1.2 m launch height above the floor, so PE at peak is m·g·(1.2 m + rise) — not simply 0.64× the launch KE, and the ratio between them changes with speed rather than staying fixed.

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Mechanics

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