Score: 0
Level 1: Flat Range Arcs Balls: 3
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About Newton Arc

Pull Newton's cannon and launch cannonballs along real parabolas in this free online projectile motion game about velocity, gravity, energy and momentum.

Newton Arc is a free online projectile motion game where you drag a hilltop cannon, pick a launch angle and speed, then let gravity bend every shot into a parabola. Later levels add wind, destructible structures, explosions and pendulums so you feel kinetic energy and momentum transfer instead of just reading about them.

Every mechanic maps onto a real equation from classical mechanics. The dotted arc shows the kinematic path a projectile takes when horizontal velocity stays constant while vertical velocity changes at g = 9.8 m/s²: that is why 45° gives maximum range on flat ground and why complementary angles like 30° and 60° land at the same spot. Blocks fall when unsupported because stored gravitational potential energy converts to kinetic energy, KE = ½mv². Shoving a heavy stone block or smacking a pendulum demonstrates momentum, p = mv, and the blast of a powder keg is impulse, J = Δp, delivered in an instant.

Galileo first proved that projectiles trace parabolas by splitting motion into independent components, and Newton turned that insight into universal gravitation with his famous cannonball thought experiment: fire a ball fast enough and it falls around the planet forever, which is exactly how satellites stay in orbit. Ballistics, sports science and rocket launches all reuse the same math you just played with.

Key Science Concepts

What You'll Learn

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

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How to play

  1. 1. Pull & Aim Drag the cannonball back to set launch angle and speed. The dotted arc and the live θ and v₀ readout preview your parabola.
  2. 2. Ring Every Bell Release to launch! Ring all golden bells before your cannonballs run out. Unused balls pay a bonus.
  3. 3. Watch the Wind Gale clouds push your shot sideways. Check the wind tag and aim upwind to land on target.
  4. 4. Topple Structures Blocks fall when their support is smashed. Drop crates onto bells, shatter glass and shove heavy stone with momentum.
  5. 5. Chain the Blast Powder kegs push everything outward with one big impulse. Swinging pendulums carry your momentum into the stack.
  6. 6. Chase Bonuses Grab apples mid-flight, clear levels in one shot and finish with spare balls for the biggest scores.

Frequently asked questions

Is Newton Arc free to play?
Yes. Newton Arc is completely free to play in your browser. There is no download, install or account needed.
What grade level is Newton Arc for?
Newton Arc is designed for Middle School, High School students and works well as a classroom activity or homework.
Does Newton Arc work on phones and tablets?
Yes. Newton Arc runs in any modern browser on desktop computers, Chromebooks, tablets and phones in landscape mode.

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