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Physics 1A Laboratory Experiment 3 Projectile Motion 7 October 2015

The trajectory equation we will be testing is y=x tan (th) - gx2 / 2(v0cos (th))2 where y is the change in the vertical height of the projectile, x is the change. In the second launch, we calculate where the ball will hit the table by plugging all the values into the trajectory equation when th is equal 0deg then solve for x. If our second launch has 3 the same outcome as our

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66 views

Physics 1A Laboratory Experiment 3 Projectile Motion 7 October 2015

The trajectory equation we will be testing is y=x tan (th) - gx2 / 2(v0cos (th))2 where y is the change in the vertical height of the projectile, x is the change. In the second launch, we calculate where the ball will hit the table by plugging all the values into the trajectory equation when th is equal 0deg then solve for x. If our second launch has 3 the same outcome as our

Uploaded by

api-302421424
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics 1A
Laboratory
Experiment 3
Projectile Motion
7 October 2015
Cindy Clarissa

Projectile Motion
Objective:
The objective of this laboratory experiment is to test whether the
trajectory equation predicts the behavior of a free-falling projectile. The
trajectory equation we will be testing is
y=x tan () gx^2/2(vcos ())^2
Where y is the change in the vertical height of the projectile, x is the
change in the horizontal range of the project, v is the initial speed and
is the angle of the initial velocity with respect to the horizontal. The
constant g is the acceleration due to gravity, g= 9.8 m/s^2
Approach:
We launch a projectile two times from a spring cannon. Refer to the
experimental diagram below. For the first launch, we set to 4.5 and
we calculate the range = x, from the tip of where the ball leaves the
cannon to where the ball hits the table, and height = y of the cannon,
from the bottom of the cannon to the height of where the ball is at.
Once we get the x & y value, we use the trajectory equation to solve
for the initial velocity. Before the second launch, we calculate where
the ball will hit the table by plugging all the values into the trajectory
equation when is equal 0 then solve for x. If our second launch has

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the same outcome as our prediction, thus the trajectory equation is
able to predict the behavior of a free-falling projectile.

Experimental Apparatus:
Spring-loaded Cannon
Brass spherical projectile
Carbon paper
White paper
Tape Measure
Magnetic Protractor
Empty Box
Procedure:
Refer to the experimental apparatus diagram.
1. Set up the first launch with an initial angle, 4.5. To do so,
measure the first launch angle with the Magnetic Protractor; add
or subtract the table angle to the angle of the spring cannon
2. Set up the empty box at the end of the table to prevent the brass
balls falling out of the table
3. Using the tape measure, measure the range (x) from the edge of
the table and to the tip of the pole where the ball leaves the
spring-loaded cannon
4. Using the tape measure, measure from the bottom of the spring
cannon to the tip of where the brass ball is to get the height (h)
5. Tape the paper to the table and the carbon paper on top of the
white paper
6. Launch brass balls and number every marks that the ball makes
on the white paper; repeat launch 6 times

4
7. Once collected data, measure the range (x) from the edge of the
table to where the brass spherical ball makes a marking on the
paper with a tape measure
8. With the data collect, subtract all the data with the initial
measure range in step 2
9. Repeat this procedure for the second launch with the angle () is
equal 0
Raw Data:
1. First launch, data taken for calculation of v
1 = 4.5
y1 = .095m
x1= 1.1048m (average distance calculated)

Range

2.

[m]
1.059
1.094
1.075
1.102
1.146
1.153

Angle
Height [m]
0.095
0.095
0.095
0.095
0.095
0.095

()
4.5
4.5
4.5
4.5
4.5
4.5

We

Avg Distance [Xave] =


(Total Range) / 6 =
1.1048m
calculated the range (x) before we launch and predicted
where the ball will land when the angle () is equal 0. The
result is:
2 = 0
y2 = .077m
v = 5.751m/s

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x2 = .68982m (predicted range (x) from calculations)
x2 = .705m (actual range (x) outcome)

Analysis:
First launch: Use the trajectory equation to calculate v.

y=x tan () gx^2/2(vcos ())^2


=> v = [( -g* x^2 )/( 2 ( cos ())^2*( y x * tan )]
This can be solved with the measured values y1, x1, and v
v = [(-9.8m/s^2*(1.1048m^2)/(2(cos (4.5))^2*(0.095m(1.1048m) * tan 4.5)]
Calculated v = 5.75 m/s
Second Launch: Calculate x2 by using the trajectory equation. 2 =
0, y2 = .077m,
v = 5.751m/s, g = 9.5m/s^2

x2 = ([2*abs(v)^2 * .705m)/ 9.8m/s^2]


Calculated x2 = .68982 m
Compared measured x2 to Calculated x2
Percent error = ( abs (calculated x2 measured x2)/(calculated x2) x
100
= 100 x abs(.68982m-.705m)/ .68982m
Error = 2.2%
Conclusion:
We measured the range of the projectile experiencing gravitational
acceleration and compared it with the range predicted by the

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trajectory equation. The measure range was .705 m. The error between
these values is 2.2%, less than 3%. The measured value is almost close
to the calculated value. We conclude that the trajectory equation
predicts the trajectory of the projectile to within the expected
experimental error.
Discussion:
The trajectory equation predicted the range quite well. This equation
works only if the gravitational acceleration is constant, which this is the
case for a free-falling object. The hardest thing to do is to get the ball
mark on the white paper. We kept launching the ball several times and
it wouldnt mark the paper. After observations, we then realized we had
to tape the paper much tighter to the table to have the brass ball mark
the paper. Our percent error might come from the measurement from
the table to the markings of the table because the marking was quite
big. We couldnt necessarily measure the center of the mark every
time, therefore we measured it to the side of the markings to get a
consistent measurement.
Safety:
I felt this experiment was quite safe because we used the empty box to
catch all the brass balls from hitting any other materials and damaging
it.

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