Oblique Projectile Motion with Cobra DigiMotion

Principle

Projectile motion is a classical type of motion in mechanics. The motion consists of two independent components: a uniform motion in the horizontal direction and a uniformly accelerated motion in the vertical direction. The superposition of these two motions results in a parabolic trajectory. Gravity acts exclusively in the vertical direction and determines how quickly the object falls to the ground. The initial horizontal velocity, on the other hand, only affects the range of the object. In an idealized model without air resistance, every object follows the same trajectory, whereas air resistance and friction reduce the range in real-world conditions. With the MotionBoard, the trajectory of the MotionDot can be recorded and analyzed precisely in real time.

Tasks

Record the motion of the MotionDot in real time using the MotionBoard.
Separate the motion into its horizontal and vertical components.
Determine the flight path and analyze the trajectory.
Repeat the measurements several times to obtain typical motion curves.
Compare the measured trajectory with the theoretical model and discuss possible deviations.

Learning objective

Learners should first recognize that projectile motion consists of a uniform horizontal motion and a uniformly accelerated vertical motion. For this purpose, an object is launched with a defined initial velocity and its trajectory is recorded using the MotionBoard. Students should become familiar with the concepts of horizontal and vertical motion, velocity, acceleration, and parabolic trajectory. From the beginning of their study of kinematics, they should be able to decompose motions into their components, determine trajectories, and evaluate measurement data graphically.

Benefits