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Project: a ball's path
Place a dot at (x, 150 - x * x / 150) for x from -150 to 150 in steps of 10, cycling through at least 3 colours.
Learn
A thrown ball follows a curve called a parabola: height = 150 - xยฒ / 150 is one. Plot it by looping x from -150 to 150 in steps of 10, working out y, moving the pen there without drawing (penup) and placing a dot. Dots in several colours show the path like a flight trail.
Your task
Place a dot at (x, 150 - x * x / 150) for x from -150 to 150 in steps of 10, cycling through at least 3 colours.
Stretch challenge
Draw a second, wider arc in another colour.
Press Run to see what your program prints.
More in this module
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Project: the bouncing ball
Move the ball 20 steps. If x goes above 100, set x to 200 - x and reverse the speed; if x goes below 0, set x to -x and reverse the speed. Count the bounces. Print the final x, then the number of bounces.
Start โ16Project: free fall
Drop from a height of 80 metres. Print the height after each whole second while it is above ground, like After 0 s: 80 m, then Landed after 4 s.
Start โPractise the idea
๐ Play Orbit Slingshot
Launch a probe through real gravity. Curve around planets, moons and black holes to reach the portal.
FAQ
Project: a ball's path: common questions
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