Projectile motion step by step solver — a TI-84 Plus CE program
PROJSTEP is a TI-BASIC program for the TI-84 Plus CE. Launch speed and angle (degrees, from the ground, g = 9.8 m/s²) worked one step per screen, so you can copy the working: split the velocity into VX and VY, time to the top, max height, flight time, range, then a summary.
What it asks for and what it shows
It asks for 2 values at its prompts. In the example below it shows T (S), H (M), R (M), STEP 1 OF 5, SPLIT VELOCITY, VX, =20*COS(35°), VX, VY, =20*SIN(35°), VY, STEP 2 OF 5, TIME TO THE TOP, AT THE TOP VY, TUP, =11.472/9.8, TUP, STEP 3 OF 5, MAX HEIGHT, H, =11.472²/19.6, H, STEP 4 OF 5, FLIGHT TIME, UP AND BACK DOWN, T, =2*1.1706, T, STEP 5 OF 5, RANGE, R, =16.383*2.3411, R, SUMMARY, G.
Example run
One of its oracle test cases. The inputs are typed in order, and the results are the values the case expects on the screen.
| Step | Value |
|---|---|
| You enter | |
| Input 1 | 20 |
| Input 2 | 35 |
| The screen shows | |
T (S)= | 2.341128312 |
H (M)= | 6.71408017 |
R (M)= | 38.35480085 |
| Text | STEP 1 OF 5 |
| Text | SPLIT VELOCITY |
VX= | V*COS(θ) |
| Text | =20*COS(35°) |
VX= | 16.383 |
VY= | V*SIN(θ) |
| Text | =20*SIN(35°) |
VY= | 11.472 |
| Text | STEP 2 OF 5 |
| Text | TIME TO THE TOP |
AT THE TOP VY= | 0 |
TUP= | VY/G |
| Text | =11.472/9.8 |
TUP= | 1.1706 |
| Text | STEP 3 OF 5 |
| Text | MAX HEIGHT |
H= | VY²/(2G) |
| Text | =11.472²/19.6 |
H= | 6.7141 |
| Text | STEP 4 OF 5 |
| Text | FLIGHT TIME |
| Text | UP AND BACK DOWN |
T= | 2*TUP |
| Text | =2*1.1706 |
T= | 2.3411 |
| Text | STEP 5 OF 5 |
| Text | RANGE |
R= | VX*T |
| Text | =16.383*2.3411 |
R= | 38.355 |
| Text | SUMMARY |
G= | 9.8 M/S² |
How it's checked
5 test cases, each checked against an independent method. Replayed key by key on a virtual TI-84 Plus CE, they make 152 checks.
How E-Code checks every program
Run it or put it on your calculator
- Open the library in the TI-84 Plus CE calculator and pick “Projectile motion, step by step” (PROJSTEP).
- Put it on your own calculator with a computer and a USB cable, or type it in by hand.
Related programs
- Projectile motion solver
- Kinematics: the five constant-acceleration equations
- Projectile launched from a height
- Thin lens, mirror, lensmaker and two-lens system
- Simple harmonic motion: spring or pendulum
All TI-84 Plus CE physics programs · All TI-84 Plus CE programs