Pondering projectiles

Flare launcher

A snowmobile is in motion on a horizontal plane. If it launches a flare (vertically) and maintains constant velocity after the launch, where will the flare land? Note: Ignore any possible air resistance.

View the following video to help guide your thinking.

Would it land in front of, behind or back in the flare launcher? Is it none of these? Does it depend on the velocity of the snowmobile?

Photograph of a snowmobile
What did Newton have to say?

Any moving object will continue moving with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by another unbalanced force.

Q: What were the horizontal or vertical forces acting on the flare?

Banana cannon

Take a look at the Monkey and the Zookeeper dilemma.

  1. Investigate the different environments that are discussed and make appropriate summary notes.

  2. Design a short presentation that explores your early understanding of projectile motion.

Share your understanding with your teacher and classmates.