Development of a practical case for studying ballistic motion

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.32782/2307-9770.2025.13.04.05

Paper Language: UKR

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Abstract

The article addresses the problem of improving the effectiveness of studying ballistic motion within the physics curriculum of higher education institutions under conditions of blended and distance learning. The purpose of the study is to develop and substantiate a practical case for studying ballistic motion that integrates the theoretical foundations of classical mechanics, computer modeling, and students’ research activities in order to foster subject-specific and digital competencies. The research methodology is based on an inquiry- and modeling-oriented approach to learning and involves a staged organization of educational activities, including problem formulation, theoretical analysis, mathematical and computer modeling, performance of research tasks, critical analysis of results, generalization, and reflection. Within the proposed case, classical equations of motion, principles of force decomposition into projections, integration of differential equations, and structural modeling methods are employed, followed by the implementation of the model in the Matlab Simulink environment. Particular attention is paid to determining the initial conditions of motion and analyzing the influence of the launch angle, initial force, body mass, and launch height on the characteristics of the trajectory. The results of the study consist in the development of a comprehensive practical case that enables students to visualize ballistic motion, independently vary model parameters, analyze the resulting trajectories, flight time, and range, and establish cause-and-effect relationships between physical quantities. It is demonstrated that the use of computer modeling promotes a deeper understanding of the physical nature of the phenomenon, enhances learning motivation, and activates students’ cognitive engagement. The originality of the study lies in combining the classical analytical description of ballistic motion with its structural representation and computer-based implementation within a single educational case, which makes it possible to integrate physics, mathematics, and information technologies into a unified learning process. The practical significance of the work lies in the possibility of using the developed case during laboratory and practical physics classes in face-to-face, distance, and blended learning formats, as well as in the training of engineering and technical specialists. The proposed approach can be adapted to different levels of students’ prior knowledge and used to modernize the methodology of teaching mechanics in accordance with the competency-based approach.

Keywords

physics education; inquiry-based learning; computer simulation; structural modeling; Matlab Simulink; classical mechanics; projectile dynamics; STEM education; digital competencies; higher education, training students in automation

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