Projectile Motion Simulator
Launch a projectile and watch it fly. Adjust the initial velocity, launch angle, and starting height to see how each variable affects the trajectory, maximum height, range, and time of flight — all governed by Newton's second law and constant gravitational acceleration.
Projectile Motion Simulation
Tip: drag the bomb up/down on the launch pad to set height directly.
Drag anywhere on the sky to aim the angle — drag the bomb itself to set launch height.
The Physics Behind This Simulation
This simulator solves the kinematic equations for a projectile under constant gravitational acceleration with no air resistance. The horizontal and vertical motions are independent:
Where v₀ is the initial speed, θ is the launch angle above horizontal, h₀ is the initial height, and g is gravitational acceleration. Air resistance is ignored — this is the idealised model taught in introductory physics courses.
Things to Try
45° gives maximum range
At ground level (h₀ = 0), a 45° angle maximises horizontal distance. Try 30° and 60° — they give the same range but different trajectories.
Compare planets
Switch gravity to the Moon (1.62 m/s²) and watch the same launch travel ~6× farther and reach ~6× higher than on Earth.
Height changes the optimal angle
Set initial height to 20 m. The angle for maximum range drops below 45° because the projectile has extra fall time.
Zero gravity
Set gravity to 0 m/s². The projectile travels in a straight line forever — Newton's first law in action.