As experienced physicists, we see the beauty and sim-
plicity of projectile motion. It is merely the superpo-
sition of uniform linear motion along the direction
of the initial velocity vector and the downward motion due
to the constant acceleration of gravity. We see the kinematic
equations as just the mathematical machinery to perform
the calculations. What do our students see? Likely, most see
no deeper than the operational understanding needed to use
the kinematic equations. Described below is a device (shown
in Fig. 1) that illustrates the physicist’s view of projectile
motion. It can be used as a classroom demonstration or as a
project for your students, and it costs less than three dollars
to make.