Physics and motion
What-if questions about physics and motion. Each one has a model to try or a careful thought experiment.
50 to explore · page 2 of 2
- Watch Try it What If? Lab What if you threw a ball from a cliff? On flat ground, a ball launched at 45° goes farthest. Put the same launcher on top of a 20-meter cliff in our model and the ball flies longer and farther, and the best angle drops to about 31°. Find out why extra height changes the best aim.
- Watch Try it What If? Lab What if you tossed a ball straight up? A ball tossed straight up slows down, stops for a split second at the top, then falls back. In this lab you toss it at 8 meters per second and watch its speed. Here is the surprise: it comes back past your starting point just as fast as it left.