This Monday completed our work with motion in 2 dimensions given an initial starting angle. Again, we started the session reviewing Pythagorean theorem and basic trigonometry and went over the basic equations that govern projectile motion.

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Students were challenged to use their projectile motion devices to determine the appropriate parameters (angle and length of balloon stretch) required to land their Ping-Pong ball in an upright paper bag 1 yard.

Students used the energy data from a few weeks ago to calculate the energy storage parameters for each device so they could accurately calculate the initial velocities and then combine this knowledge with trigonometry so to make predictions of where the ball would land.

a 2 + b 2 =c 2

X= the horizontal component of the vector

Y= the vertical component of the vector

θ= the angle of the vector

Sin= opp./hyp.

Cos= adj./hyp.

Tan= opp./adj.

The 5 students were broken into two groups and each group chose to determine the answer to the problem differently. The group with Oliver, Sinan, and Dixon chose to experimentally finds the answer then back calculate to find the pertinent kinematic data. The group with Jasper and Magnus chose to attempt to mathematically solve the problem before they used the data to attack the challenge.