Ball Toss Projectile Motion Activity - On Level, Trig Based or AP Physics

This is an excellent activity to develop the mathematics of upwardly fired projectiles. It has low error, uses a free app for measuring motion and students must work as a team.

Students work in groups of 4 to toss a tennis ball or similar item a horizontal distance of 4-6 meters between them and video capture the event. They then record the time data, measure the toss angle, calculate the vertical and horizontal components of motion and determine the resultant launch speed. It takes students 45-55 minutes to complete the activity from toss to turn in.

This lab is appropriate for physics students who can handle the minor amount of trig needed – on-level to AP Physics. The lab walks students through the steps to make the calculations.

You only need meter sticks and tennis or other balls.

• Cooperative Learning

• Real life data collection and analysis

• Use of BYO Technology

• Teacher instructions

• Power point to drive the activity

• Reinforcement of difficult concepts

• Student handout

• Follow up quiz

• Keys

Keywords: projectile, trajectory, apex, horizontal, vertical, resultant, trigonometry, vectors, angle, tangent, components, analysis, laboratory, lab, experiment, technology, phone, app, trig, pre-calculus, AP physics 1, physics, linear motion.