Projectile Motion Cannon Lab

Explore full 2D projectile motion with cannon launches and moving-plane package drops.

Score: 0Mode: basicScenario: cannonPlanet: Earth

Interactive Simulation

Click inside the right side of the canvas to place the target and test your prediction.

Controls & Presets

Initial Velocity (m/s)35.00
Launch Angle (deg)42.00
Cannon Height (m)4.00
Gravity (m/s²)9.81
Friction / Drag Coefficient0.02
Projectile / Package Mass (kg)1.00
Wind Speed (m/s)0.00
Wind Direction (deg)0.00

2D Projectile Motion Explanations

Cannon launch: x = x0 + (v cosθ)t, y = y0 + (v sinθ)t - 0.5gt²
Plane drop: x = x0 + vplane·t, y = y0 - 0.5gt² (initial vy = 0)
Horizontal and vertical motion are solved together every time-step (RK4).
No drag model: acceleration is constant (ax = 0, ay = -g).

Coding Challenge Mode

Set variables with code to test both cannon and plane-drop projectile models.

Ready

Data Collection Table

TrialScenarioHeightLaunch SpeedAnglePlane SpeedParachuteWindTimeMax HeightRangeHit/Miss

Solution Analysis

Time of flight: t ≈ - s
Range: x ≈ - m
Maximum height: hmax ≈ - m
Impact velocity: vimpact ≈ - m/s
Initial kinetic energy: KE0 = 0.5·m·v² = 612.500 J
Impact kinetic energy: KEimpact = 0.000 J

Teacher Controls

Target X (m)90.00
Target Y (m)4.00

Lock Variables

Assignments & Attempts

    Student attempts logged: 0

    Visualization Tools

    Position vs Time

    Velocity vs Time

    Acceleration vs Time

    Trajectory Graph

    Learning Support

    Compare all 2D cases by tracking x(t), y(t), vx(t), vy(t), and the resulting trajectory y(x).