You control the motion of the RED ball!

Change the parameters in the equations below and click SHOOT!

x(t) =
y(t) =

The goal is to hit the blue ball!
       
SHOOT

Your challenge is to control the motion of the red ball to hit the blue ball. Do it in several ways:
  1. First keep y(t) as it is and change only the x(t) value, e.g. x(t) = -5 or 20 until you hit the blue ball.
  2. Then keep x(t) at 2 and vary a and b in y(t) = a + bt to hit the blue ball. Do it in several ways. What are the physical meanings of a and b in this context?
  3. Can you shoot at an angle, e.g. to the top-left or top-right? (Hint: try x(t) = 2 + 10t.)
  4. Try to hit the blue ball as early as possible, or as late as possible ...
  5. Make y(t) quadratic. What happens?
  6. Try other formulas ... What happens?