Just Physics

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Topic 1.5: Practice Sheet — Projectile Motion Problem-Solving

Name: _______________________________ Date: _______________ Period: ______

Directions: Find vₓ and vy,ᵢ FIRST and label them clearly before doing anything else. Use g = 9.8 m/s². Round to 2-3 significant figures. Circle or box your final answer.

Warm-Up Level (straightforward, one-step)

  1. A ball is launched at 14 m/s at 45° above horizontal. Find its horizontal and vertical velocity components.
  2. A ball is launched at 20 m/s at 30° above horizontal. Find the time it takes to reach maximum height.

Standard Level (multi-step, matches typical AP Classroom depth)

  1. A ball is launched at 25 m/s at 40° above horizontal. Find (a) its velocity components, (b) the total time of flight, and (c) the maximum height reached.
  2. A ball is launched at 18 m/s at 53° above horizontal. Find the total time of flight and the range.
  3. Two balls are launched at 16 m/s, one at 20° and one at 70° above horizontal. Find the range of each and compare them.

AP-Level (multi-part: calculate + justify/represent/predict-a-change)

  1. A golf ball is launched at 30 m/s at 35° above horizontal. a) Find its horizontal and vertical velocity components. b) Find the total time of flight. c) Find the range. d) If the launch angle were changed to 55° (same launch speed), predict the new range WITHOUT fully recalculating. Then explain what WOULD change about the flight (max height, flight time) even though the range stays the same.
  2. A classmate claims: "Increasing the launch angle always increases the range, as long as the launch speed stays the same." Evaluate this claim — is it true or false? Justify your answer, including what happens to range as the angle increases past 45°.

Keep this sheet — it's part of your semester study materials, same as your Concept Sheets.