Overview
In this activity, students will operate a pitching machine and have the opportunity to predict, perceive, and model the trajectory of a ball in flight. In doing this, students will develop an improved awareness of safety concerns, and explore and understand the trajectory of a ball in flight. This two-hour session shows how the theory learned in lecture can be applied and observed in the real world.
The activity begins with the students performing a risk assessment, followed by a prediction of the trajectory when a ball is shot horizontally. Students then form groups and work together, adjusting the speed and angle of the machine, to land a ball in a tire. Finally they will record the trajectory of a ball in flight with a camera and use provided software to model the path. In this activity, the students have an opportunity to verify numerical Physics models of the system in reality, and practice communication and clarity by communicating predictions and results orally to classmates.