Sideways and Down: Two Motions at Once

Lesson 9 of 10 · 7 min · Free, no account needed

What you will learn

Something launched sideways is a projectile: it moves sideways and falls at the same time.
The two motions are independent: sideways it keeps a steady speed, downwards it falls exactly like a dropped ball.
So the fall time depends only on the height. The landing distance is sideways speed × fall time.

One ball rolls off the table, another is dropped at the same moment. Which hits the floor first?
Flash by flash: one rolls off at 2 m/s, one is dropped.
Press Step. Compare the heights in each flash.
Roll it faster. What changes, and what stays the same?
Pick a speed, press Roll. Try at least two speeds.
Two motions at once.
A projectile: thrown or launched, then left to gravity. It moves sideways and falls at the same time.
The motions are independent: sideways a steady speed, downwards free fall, as if the other did not exist.
So fall time comes from the height alone, and landing distance = sideways speed × fall time. Simplified model: no air.
The ball leaves the 1.25 m table at 2 m/s. Put the basket where it lands.
Fall time from 1.25 m is about 0.5 s.
Game: package drop. Three targets.
The drone flies steadily. Press Drop at the right moment so the package lands on each target.
AI: teach a drone agent when to drop. Label six recorded drops.
Good means it landed in the ring. The agent will learn only from your labels.
Draw the path of the ball that rolls off the 1.25 m table at 2 m/s.
From the table edge until it lands. Then the real path appears.
Your drops against the trained agent.

Lessons are interactive and need JavaScript. Turn it on to play them.