Projectile Motion Physics Lab
Experiment with launch angles, initial velocity, and gravity to understand 2D kinematics.
About this simulation
- What
- An interactive Physics simulation of Projectile Motion Physics Lab.
- Who
- Designed for AP, IB, and A‑Level Physics students.
- How
- Runs in any modern browser — drag, adjust, and explore in real time.
Updated 2026-04-10
Key Concepts
Independence of Motion
Horizontal motion (constant velocity) and vertical motion (constant acceleration) happen simultaneously but independently.
Maximum Range
Without air resistance, the maximum horizontal distance is achieved at a 45° launch angle.
Symmetry of Trajectory
The time to reach maximum height equals the time to fall back down, and the trajectory is a perfect parabola.
Unpacking Projectile Motion
Projectile motion proves that nature solves 2D problems by treating them as two 1D problems that don't talk to each other. The horizontal motion is completely independent of the vertical motion.
Toggle the 'Split View' in the simulator. You'll see the yellow ball doing pure free-fall, the red ball moving at constant speed horizontally, and the main blue ball combining both motions perfectly.
Try answering this: if you drop a bullet from your hand, and fire a bullet perfectly horizontally from a gun at the same time, which one hits the flat ground first? (Spoiler: They hit at the exact same time!)