Exploring Emerging Technologies Mini-Lesson Plan

Objectives:

Students will utilize a Java applet to design an experiment/simulation on projectile motion.
Students will analyze and collect data on the simulation.
Students will draw conclusions on the effects of the launch angle, velocity, and the density of the projectile, while drawing conclusions of the effects of gravity and wind resistance on the projectile as well.

Materials:

Students will need a computer connected to the internet running Netscape 3.0 or higher or Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher.
Each computer needs to have the Java Cannon loaded.
Each student should have paper to create data tables to record information from the simulation/experiment.

Timespan:

Approximately 1-2 class periods.

Procedure:

Define projectile motion for your students. Explain that there may be many variables that affect the flight path and distance of an object.
In this activity students will design their own experiments to investigate how the launch angle, velocity, density, air resistance, and gravity effect the flight of a projectile.
Emphasize the need for a controled experiment and that only one variable at a time should be investigated.
Open the following URL http://jersey.uoregon.edu/vlab/Cannon/index.html and demonstrate how to use the Cannon. The variables are changed by moving sliders and the cannon is fired by clicking on the shoot button.
Allow students to design and run the experiments.
Following the experiment students should organize the data graphically and write a summary paragraph on the variables and their effects.

Variations:

Simply pose the following task: find as many ways as you can to hit the target using the Java Cannon. Students should record what the readings are on the controls for every successful strike.
Another variation is to have students only explore one or two variables each and jigsaw the pieces of data together for the full picture.

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