Online Resosurces
Year 12 Assessment Task -Using Projectile Motion in the Real World
The online resource "Year 12 Assessment Task -Using Projectile Motion in the Real World" follows the Mathematics Extension 1 Course of the New South Wales Board of Studies syllabus. The syllabus outcome is 14.3 E 'Applications of Calculus to the Physical World- The motion of a projectile'. This assignment connects to students prior knowledge with a video on projectile motion by David Fullerton the author of website APlusPhysics.com. The task uses a projectile motion calculator from MrMont.com to obtained data to derive some quantitative and qualitative inferences on parabolic flight. One of the questions in the assignment ask the students to watch the 'projectile motion student show.pps' and to cognitively follow how to derive horizontal and vertical displacement formulas using calculus (PowerPoint show has to be downloaded to play all transitions). Furthermore this assignment has a scaffold to help students derive the cartesian formulas of parabolic flight.
APlusPhysics.com
The website "APlusPhysics.com" has excellent videos on explaining physics concepts and especially projectile motion, course content notes, examples of problems and blogs for students to ask questions. The direct link to the videos index http://www.aplusphysics.com/courses/regents/videos/vid_index.html and the link to the course content is http://www.aplusphysics.com/courses/regents/regents_physics.html. This site has also physics podcast and links to other credible podcast websites such as physics in action http://www.physicsinaction.com/.
Modelling Projectiles
The online resource "Modelling projectiles" uses the infamous V2 Rocket as an example of projectile motion discovered by the Nazis in World War 2. The website has interactive animations describing parabolic flight paths. Cartesian equations are used as an example to explain how the flight of a projectile follows a parabolic equation path. The methodology of how the V2 Rocket was able to reach its destination is explained using the principles of projectile motion. There is another resource within this website called "V2 Rocket". This describes the cultural aspects why the rocket was initially conceptualized by the Nazis, where they were built and the destruction they caused by the end of the war.
Projectile Motion
The resource "Projectile Motion" starts off with the initial conditions of velocity formulas and then quotes general formulas of projectile motion. However it extends the general equations by using calculus to derive maximum horizontal range when a projectile is fired at some height above the ground. It has an excellent simulation of a projectile being fired out of a cannon. The initial angle and speed of the simulations can be varied to calculate different maximum heights and ranges. This website also contains a forum where students can ask questions.
Projectile Motion - Introduction (Inquiry Based Learning)
"Projectile Motion - Introduction" is a multi-modal online information resource. The projectile motion simulator assists students to use reasoning skills to explain the predictions. Furthermore it helps students explain projectile motion in terms of their own words and to describe why using the simulation is a good method for studying projectiles. There are many more challenging projectile motion lessons and lab projects on the University of Colorado website that can be used to make students cognitively extend their conceptualization of parabolic flight.
Calculus Power Point Lectures
Greg Kelly's PowerPoint lectures on Calculus are included in this pathfinder as a teacher resource and for students to use to deepen their basic understanding of differentiation, integration and other calculus topics. Two PowerPoint presentations selected as an example of the presentations available to explain basic calculus knowledge for projectile motion problems are "Rules for differentiation" and "Velocity, Speed & Rates of Change".
Motion and Forces in Two Dimensions - Projectile Motion
The Physics Classroom website has a thorough explanation of the quantitative conditions of parabolic flight with an animation to enhance students' deeper cognitive awareness on the topic. It shows equations and examples for students to get a complete introduction and grasp the concepts quickly. There are small quizzes to check your understanding after the description of the properties. A few of the questions also include an animation to visualize the problem.
Projectile Motion with Examples
PhysicsTutorials.org provides a resource with an accurate explanation of projectile motion with diagrams. It lists the general formulas of projectile motion and has a succinct explanation of each one. There are three good projectile motion examples that will further assist the students understanding of the concepts for different conditions of flight.
The learning Cycle on Projectile Motion - Teaching Resources
There are 6 experiments on projectile motion designed by Eugenia Etkina and located on Rutgers University website. Each experiment has an explanation and an animation to give an overview for the teacher and what the students need to investigate.
Google
The Google search engine is a popular and very familiar to students. However students using Google search with only its basic features would be more luck than trying to design your searching strategy to find the most on target, credible and authoritative sources. Students must be encouraged to use Google's power searching strategies. This can enhance and reduce the number of on target hits to find the most applicable and credible information. A Google learning initiative to make students better website searches and to show them how to use Google power searching short cuts and strategies effectively is located at http://www.google.com/insidesearch/searcheducation/.