Analyzing Projectile Motion

Part A

Describe the motion of the snowboarder in the video.

Part B

For this activity, you'll analyze the motion of the marked spot on the skateboarder's leg. For each dropdown labeled "cm" or "model cm," change the option to "Legs."

In each frame containing a plot or table, you can use the buttons at the top of the frame to choose whether it shows a plot (graph) or a table. If it is showing a plot, you can select the y-axis label to choose which measurement to plot. See how to change the graph and table options.

Now look at the graphs for the horizontal and vertical displacement of the legs against time.

How do the two graphs, x vs. t and y vs. t appear? What can you say about the displacement of the snowboarder?

Part C

Now, observe the graphs of the horizontal and vertical components of velocity versus time. Change the graphs to show v_xvs.t and v_yvs.t.

What do you observe about the velocity components of the snowboarder before and after time t=0?

Part D

Now, change the graphs to observe horizontal acceleration, a_xvs. t and vertical acceleration, a_yvs. t. What can you say about the horizontal and vertical accelerations?

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Part E

From your observations about the horizontal and vertical component of position, velocity and acceleration, do you think taking "Legs" of the snowboarder as reference point for plotting the motion is a good option for describing the snowboarder's projectile motion?