Discovering Projectile Motion

Curriculum Details

Subject Area: Physics
Year Level: Year 10
Australian Curriculum Reference: The lesson aligns with the Year 10 Physical Sciences curriculum (ACSSU229), which explores the motion of objects, including describing, measuring, and analysing forces acting on objects—explicitly focusing on applying Newtonian mechanics to real-world contexts.

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Lesson Overview

Duration: 45 minutes
Topic Focus: Projectile motion fundamentals, including horizontal and vertical components, launch angles, and real-world applications. Students will engage in interactive activities and group work to deepen their understanding of parabolic motion. By the end of this lesson, they will have a theoretical and practical grasp of how angle and velocity affect projectile motion.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Define projectile motion and describe its key components: horizontal and vertical motion.
2. Analyse how velocity and angle affect projectile motion.
3. Apply their knowledge in a group experiment to model and calculate projectile motion using a real-world scenario.

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Materials and Preparation

• Mini whiteboards and markers for brainstorming.
• Tennis balls (1 per group).
• Tape measure.
• Protractors (1 per group).
• A portable fan (optional for advanced experimentation with air resistance).
• Graph paper and rulers (1 per student).
• A stop clock (1 per group).
• Calculators.
• Access to an open outdoor space or a gymnasium.

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

Quick Brainstorm

• Begin by writing "Motion" on the whiteboard and asking students to define it in one or two sentences.
• Progress by asking, "What do you think happens when an object is thrown into the air? Does it move differently in horizontal and vertical directions?"
• Write key student responses around these ideas.

Hook

• Introduce projectile motion by showing a brief demonstration: throw a tennis ball and have students explain its path. Explain that today’s lesson will explore why the ball moves in a curved arc rather than a straight line.

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2. Main Teaching Segment (15 minutes)

The Concepts of Projectile Motion (Explicit Teaching: 8 minutes)

• Explain the characteristics of projectile motion: how gravity acts on vertical motion, while horizontal motion stays constant. Emphasise the parabolic trajectory created by the combination of these motions. Use a diagram on the whiteboard to illustrate.

• Teach the key equations:

  1. Vertical Motion formula: ( s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2 )
     (where ( a ) = ( g ), the acceleration due to gravity = ( 9.8 , \text{m/s}^2 )).

  2. Horizontal Motion formula: ( d = vt ).

• Explain the relationship between angle and range, using examples of small, medium, and large angles of projection. Mention the magic of the ( 45^\circ ) angle for maximum range.

Visual Demonstration (Interactive): 7 minutes

• Distribute tennis balls, protractors, and stopwatches to 3 volunteer groups. Ask each volunteer to throw the ball at three different angles (approx. ( 30^\circ ), ( 45^\circ ), ( 60^\circ )).
• The rest of the students will record:
  1. Time of flight (using the stopwatch).
  2. Approximate distance travelled before hitting the ground (using the tape measure).

Prompt students to observe differences in motion at different angles and connect this back to the parabolic motion taught earlier.

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3. Practical Application (20 minutes)

Group Activity (Real-World Scenario):

• Divide the students into 6 groups of 3 students each. They will execute a mini-project: Designing the Perfect Shot (Launch Modelling).

1. Groups will aim to throw their tennis balls to land in a designated "target zone" marked on the gym floor or outdoor area.
2. They will be provided with parameters (distance to target zone, max height of the launch), and use the equations taught earlier to calculate the optimal launch velocity and angle.
3. Using these data, they will perform test trials to refine their approach and attempt to hit the target zone.

• After experimenting, each group will complete the following in their lab books:
  1. Calculations.
  2. Observations, including deviations from expected results.
  3. A brief conclusion connecting their findings to real-life applications (e.g., sports or engineering).

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4. Conclusion (5 minutes)

Class Debrief:

• Bring the students together to discuss their observations from the group activity.
• Reinforce the key concepts: How did altering the angle or initial velocity influence the accuracy and distance of the projectile?
• Discuss real-world examples where understanding projectile motion is essential (e.g., cricket, soccer, designing theme park rides).

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Assessment

1. Formative Assessment:

   • Evaluate student responses during class discussions and participation in the group activity.
   • Observe their ability to accurately record measurements and calculate angles/velocities.

2. Summative Exit Ticket:

   • Before leaving, each student must answer a quick reflective question:
     “What aspect of projectile motion do you think is most important for making an accurate shot? Why?”

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Differentiation

• Extension Activity (Advanced Students): Introduce air resistance using a portable fan, and challenge students to predict how it will impact the range of their projectile.
• Scaffolding (Struggling Students): Provide pre-filled charts with partial calculations to guide them towards completing the activity independently. Pair them with a confident peer during group work.

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Homework

• Assign a worksheet where students calculate projectile motion for a hypothetical object, given velocity and launch angle. This will reinforce the day’s learning and prep for more advanced dynamics in the next lesson.

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This lesson plan delivers an engaging balance of theoretical content and experiential learning, catering to Year 10 students in Australia while meeting curriculum standards. It fosters curiosity and real-world understanding of physics, while also allowing opportunities for differentiation and group collaboration!