Projectile Motion Simulation
A projectile's horizontal and vertical motions are completely independent, and this simulation makes that separation visible by plotting each component alongside the trajectory. Change the launch angle and watch the range respond.
How to use this simulation
- Set the launch speed, angle and initial height
- Toggle air resistance
- Display the velocity components separately
What to look for
- Maximum range on level ground occurs at 45°
- Complementary launch angles produce identical ranges
- The horizontal velocity never changes while the vertical one reverses at the peak
The physics behind it
Horizontally there is no force, so the velocity component stays constant. Vertically, gravity produces a constant downward acceleration g. Combining the two gives a parabolic path with range R = v²sin(2θ)/g on level ground, maximised at 45°. Complementary angles such as 30° and 60° give the same range by different routes.