Motion of a projectile launched from a ramp

Abstract We present a pedagogical activity for undergraduate physics students designed to demonstrate the measurable differences between the material point (Model 1) and rigid body (Model 2) models in projectile motion. We propose a computational experiment that simulates the launch of a sphere from a ramp, an activity that is often performed in introductory practical classes. We provide Python code that generates simulated data for both models and adds random noise to reproduce real conditions. Analysing the simulated data, students can visualise that the rigid body model (which includes rotational energy) provides a much more accurate prediction. The simulated data yield a slope ( A vs h ) that is only 1.40 % different from the rigid body theory, whereas it is 16.7 % different from the simpler material point model. This computational approach serves as a valuable and resource-efficient teaching tool for classrooms without access to laboratory equipment or as a preparatory exercise before a real experiment.