c. Projectile Motion

It is common for circus performers to be shot out of a cannon into a net. In the early 1900’s, a member of the Zacchini family (a famous family of circus performers) was the first human cannonball to be shot across an area and into a net. To make the stunt more exciting, the Zacchinis increase the distance of the flight until the human cannonball travelled over three Ferris wheels and through a horizontal distance of 69 m.

Essential Question: How did they know where to place the nets, and how could they be sure the human cannonball would clear the ferris wheels?

One of the Zacchinis shot out of a cannon!

How does the launch angle affect time in air and range?

http://ngsir.netfirms.com/englishhtm/ThrowABall.htm

How does air resistance affect projectile motion?

http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/projectile-motion/projectile-motion_en.html

Have some fun!

Apple Shooter Website

http://onemorelevel.com/game/apple_shooter