Newton's Cannon

Students are introduced to the concept of orbital velocity through the Futures Channel movie, The Ares Launch Vehicles, and a discussion of Newton’s cannon, then work in teams to carry out an investigation of the relationship between horizontal velocity of an object and distance traveled before falling to Earth. As an optional final step, the class derives a formula for computation of orbital velocity at the surface of the earth.

Subject: Science
Topics:
- Physics (Motion)
Grades: 9 - 12
Concepts:
- Force
- Velocity
- Orbital Velocity

Download Activity: Newton's Cannon (PDF)

Science & Technology Movie:

The Ares Launch VehiclesThe Ares Launch Vehicles

Imagine a rocket the size of a small skyscraper. Now imagine shooting it into the air with so much force that it goes from zero to a thousand miles an hour in less than a minute. What kind of engines can generate that much thrust? And why is that rocket built in stages?
Running time 9:09 minutes.

Watch the Movie