Module 2—Motion in Two Dimensions

Lesson 3—Solving Projectile Problems

 

Get Focused

 

The photograph shows a trebuchet throwing a pumpkin.

© Frank Boellman/shutterstock

A trebuchet, like the one pictured here, was originally invented as a medieval siege weapon used to either batter the mason walls of a castle or to throw projectiles over the wall. Today, it is used mostly as a novelty device, as seen here in action at a pumpkin-throwing contest.

 

How far can such a device throw a pumpkin? Ignoring air resistance, how is the range (horizontal displacement) and the time of flight for a projectile, such as a pumpkin, determined?

 

As in the case of the trebuchet, you will learn that in the absence of air resistance, projectile motion of an object can be described as a combination of two motions—a horizontal motion with constant velocity and a vertical motion with uniform acceleration due to gravity.

 

In this lesson you will explore the following essential question:

Module 2: Lesson 3 Assignments

 

Your teacher-marked Module 2: Lesson 3 Assignment requires you to submit a response to the following:

You must decide what to do with the questions that are not marked by the teacher.

 

Remember that these questions provide you with the practice and feedback that you need to successfully complete this course. You should respond to all the questions and place those answers in your course folder.