Projectile Motion: free physics simulation
Fire a cannon. Explore angle, speed, gravity and air resistance.
▶ Open the simulationFree, no sign-up. Works on phones, tablets and laptops.
The science
Without air resistance a projectile moves at constant speed sideways while gravity speeds it up downwards, so its path is a parabola. The range depends on launch speed and angle and is greatest at 45° on level ground. Air resistance shortens the range and makes the best angle a little lower.
Range R = v² sin(2θ) / g
Things to try
- Fire at 30° and 60° with the same speed: the range is the same.
- Double the launch speed and check the range goes up four times.
- Turn on air resistance and find the new best angle.
Topics covered
cannon trajectory air resistance kinematics
How to use it
Open the simulation, then change the experiment live with the sliders, checkboxes and buttons in the side panel. Drag objects on screen where it makes sense, and use Pause, Step, Speed and Reset in the bottom bar to study every moment.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Projectile Motion simulation show?
Without air resistance a projectile moves at constant speed sideways while gravity speeds it up downwards, so its path is a parabola. The range depends on launch speed and angle and is greatest at 45° on level ground. Air resistance shortens the range and makes the best angle a little lower.
What is the key equation?
Range R = v² sin(2θ) / g
Is the Projectile Motion simulation free?
Yes. It runs free in any web browser on phones, tablets and laptops, with no sign-up or download.
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