Experiment 1:

Free Fall and

Projectile Motion
Introduction:

Free fall and projectile motion are both concepts kinematics, which is a branch
of physics dealing with the description of how a body or object moves from one place
to another. Kinematics, as defined by Jacob (2017), which came from the word kinesis
meaning a change in position involves three main things: position, velocity, and
acceleration. Position is where an object is in a period of time, velocity is how fast and
at which direction an object is moving, and acceleration is rate of change in velocity.
Free fall and projectile motion are concepts which are derived from these three main
ideas that collectively make up kinematics.

According to Ling, Sanny, and Moebs (2016), free fall is one-dimensional

descent of an object due to gravity. Acceleration involving free fall was therefore called
acceleration due to gravity which is the constant: g = 9.8 m/s2

Galileo Galilei was the theorized that neglecting the concepts of air resistance
and friction, objects of different masses will arrive at the ground at the same time when
dropped from the same height (Ling et al., 2016). This was later observed in 1971
when astronaut David R. Scott demonstrated it on the moon.

Image source: https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-

1/pages/3-5-free-fall

Gupta et al. (n.d.) defined a projectile as an object that is only affected by the
force of gravity, which means it is in always a state of free fall. However, it should be
noted that while the motion of an object subjected only to free fall is one-dimensional,
a projectile’s motion is two-dimensional wherein it has both horizontal and vertical
motions. The principle of physical independence of motions states that these two
motions happen independent of one another meaning the velocity of a projectile can
be divided into the horizontal component and the vertical component. In projectile
motion the vertical component is affected by gravity therefore has a change in velocity
while the horizontal motion is in a constant rate. This means that the vertical motion
accelerates while the horizontal motion maintains its velocity all throughout (Gupta et
al., n.d.).

Projecting projectiles at different angles also influences their range and airtime.
According to Khan Academy (n.d.), there are three effects surrounding the change of
angles when projecting a projectile. First is that when the launch angle is high, the
maximum height reach is also higher than those with lower launch angles. This is
because as the steeper the angle is, the more it is directed upward causing the initial
vertical velocity to launch the projectile higher. Second is that higher launch angles
also cause the projectile to spend a longer time in the air. Same with the first effect,
the steeper the angle is, the higher the maximum height reached therefore prolonging
the time before the projectile hits the ground. Lastly, launch angles closer to 45º
produce a farther range than other launch angles because they have an optimized
horizontal velocity due to the balance in their initial velocity components as seen in the
figure below.

Image Source: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-physics-1/ap-two-

dimensional-motion/projectiles-launched-at-an-angle-ap/a/projectiles-launched-at-
angles

The formulas used in this experiment were:

Free Falling Body and Horizontally Projected Body

Horizontal Range: 𝐚 = √𝐛 𝟐 + 𝐜 𝟐 (Derived from Pythagorean Theorem Formula)

where a = Horizontal Range

 b = Launch Height
c = Hypotenuse (Displacement)

∆𝐗 𝐱
Initial Horizontal Velocity: 𝐕𝐨𝐱 = 𝐭

where 𝐕𝐨𝐱 = Initial Horizontal Velocity

∆𝐗 𝐱 = Horizontal Range
t = Time

∆𝑿𝒚
Acceleration Due to Gravity: 𝒂𝒚 = 𝟏 𝟐
𝒕
𝟐

where 𝐚𝐲 = Acceleration Due to Gravity

∆𝐗 𝐲 = Height (Vertical Range)
t = Time

𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆−𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆

Percentage Error: 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 = | | 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎 %
𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆

Projectile Projected at an Angle

𝑹
Initial Horizontal Velocity: 𝑽𝒐𝒙 = 𝒕

where 𝐕𝐨𝐱 = Initial Horizontal Velocity

R = Distance (Range)
t = Time
𝑽𝒐𝒙
Initial Velocity: 𝑽𝒐 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽

where Vo = Initial Velocity

𝐕𝐨𝐱 = Initial Horizontal Velocity

𝑽𝒐𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝜽
Range = 𝑹 = 𝒈

where R = range
Vo = Initial Velocity
g = 9.8 m/s2

Data and Results:

Trajectory of The Balls

Table 1. Free Falling Body and Horizontally Projected Body
Trials Time in Seconds Distance
Free fall Projectile motion Height Hypotenuse

Trial # 1 0.38 s 0.38 s 88.5 cm 153 cm

Trial # 2 0.36 s 0.36 s 88.5 cm 152 cm
Trial # 3 0.42 s 0.42 s 88.5 cm 156 cm
Average 0.39 s 0.39 s 88.5 cm 153.67 cm

Horizontal Range:

a = √b 2 + c 2

= √(88.5 cm)2 + (153.67 cm)2

1m
= 177.33 cm ×
100 cm

= 1.77 m

Initial Horizontal Velocity:

∆Xx
Vox =
t

1.77 m
=
0.39 s

= 4.54 m/s
Acceleration due to gravity:

∆𝑋𝑦
𝑎𝑦 =
1 2
2𝑡
0.88 𝑚
=
1 2
2 (0.39 𝑠)

= 11.57 m/s2

Percentage error:

𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜 − 𝑒𝑥𝑝
𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = | | 𝑥 100 %
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜

9.8 𝑚⁄𝑠 2 − 11.57 𝑚⁄𝑠 2

=| | 𝑥 100 %
9.8 𝑚⁄𝑠 2

= 18.06 %

Table 2. Projectile Projected at 30º

Trials Distance Time in Seconds

Trial # 1 68.5 cm 0.23 s

Trial # 2 63.5 cm 0.33 s

Trial # 3 62 cm 0.30 s

Average 64.67 cm or 0.65 m 0.29 s

Initial Horizontal Velocity:

𝑅
𝑉𝑜𝑥 =
𝑡

0.65 𝑚
=
0.29 𝑠

= 2.24 m/s

Initial Velocity:

𝑉𝑜𝑥
𝑉𝑜 =
cos 𝜃
 2.24 𝑚/𝑠
=
cos 30

= 2.59 m/s

Range:

𝑉𝑜2 sin 2𝜃
𝑅=
𝑔

(2.59 𝑚)2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2(30)

=
9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2

= 0.59 m

Table 3. Projectile Projected at 45º

Trials Distance Time in Seconds

Trial # 1 73 cm 0.44 s

Trial # 2 79.5 cm 0.42 s

Trial # 3 72.5 cm 0.34 s

Average 75 cm or 0.75 m 0.40 s

Initial Horizontal Velocity:

0.75 𝑚
=
0.40 𝑠

= 1.88 m/s

Initial Velocity:

1.88 𝑚/𝑠
=
cos 45

= 2.66 m/s

Range:

(2.66 𝑚)2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2(45)

=
9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2
 = 0.72 m

Table 4. Projectile Projected at 60º

Trials Distance Time in Seconds

Trial # 1 65 cm 0.51 s

Trial # 2 64.5 cm 0.47 s

Trial # 3 63.5 cm 0.57 s

Average 64.33 cm or 0.64 m 0.52 s

Initial Horizontal Velocity:

0.64 𝑚
=
0.52 𝑠

= 1.23 m/s

Initial Velocity:

1.23 𝑚/𝑠
=
cos 60

= 2.46 m/s

Range:

(2.46 𝑚)2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2(60)

=
9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2

= 0.53 m

Discussion of Results:

In the image presenting the trajectory of the balls, it can be seen that the
trajectory of the free fall and projectile motion are drastically different from each other.
This is aligned with the notion stated in the introduction that free-falling objects have a
one-dimensional descent having a straight path downward while projectiles have two-
dimensional descents showing more of a curved path as it nears the ground.

The group noticed a trend within the procured data in the first table. As the time
it takes to reach the ground increases, the displacement of the projectile also
increases. This is since the longer the time it takes in the air, the farther the distance
the projectile reaches.

To find the horizontal range of the projectile, the group first measured the launch
height and using a string, measured the displacement of the projectile from the initial
position to the spot where it landed. This served as the hypotenuse for the triangle.
The measurements were then averaged and then computed using the Pythagorean
theorem formula. The calculated horizontal distance was 1.77 meters.

Using the horizontal distance, the initial horizontal velocity of the projectile was
also computed by dividing it by the average time it took for the projectile to hit the
ground. It resulted in 2.59 m/s.

In finding the acceleration due to gravity of the free-falling object, the group
used the formula derived from the displacement formula which is:
1
∆𝑥 = 𝑉𝑜𝑡 + 2 𝑎𝑡 2

since there initial velocity of a free-falling object is equal to zero, we cut out the “Vot”
part of the equation and by arranging the values we are left with:

∆𝑋𝑦
𝑎𝑦 = 1 2
𝑡
2

The resulting acceleration due to gravity of the free fall was 11.57 m/s2.

When the group calculated for the percent error using the acceleration due to
gravity as the experimental value and the gravitational constant of 9.8 m/s 2 as the
theoretical value, the group was 18.06 % off. This may be due human error such as
wrong measurement and timing.

The next part of the experiment required the group to use different angled
inclined planes to angle the launch of the projectile. The first angle was 30º which
had an average launch distance of 0.65 meters and an average airtime of 0.29
seconds. When its initial velocity was calculated, it resulted in 2.59 m/s and had a
range of 0.59 m which was a little off from the launch distance. The next angles were
45º and then 60º. From the data acquired and the calculated results, it can be seen
that the angles 30º and 60º have almost the same range while the 45º outputted the
longest range of 0.72 meters. This is aligned with the statement in the introduction
that angles closer to 45º have a farther range when used as a launch angle for a
projectile. The launch angle of 60º produced the longest airtime of 0.52 seconds.
This is also in line with a statement in the introduction that higher launch angles have
longer airtimes.

Conclusion:

Free fall and projectile motion are two concepts that rely on time and position
in order to be measured accurately though they are different in terms of trajectory.
While a free-falling object has a straight path as it falls, a projectile is affected by its
vertical and horizontal velocity causing it to create a curved path as it reaches the
ground. Though some of the results the group are off from the theoretical value, the
group still managed to observe some common trends in the concepts of projectile
motion and free fall. One of these trends is that the time it takes to hit the ground and
the distance of the projectile launched are directly proportional to one another. This is
a more obvious trend since the longer the time the projectile spends in the air allows
it to cover more ground. A less obvious trend involved the angles at which the projectile
was launched. In the introduction, it was mentioned that projectiles projected at angles
closer to 45º produced a much farther range than with other angles. It was also stated
that the higher the launch angle, the longer it takes for the projectile to hit the ground.
These were observed by the group by obtaining such data after conducting the
experiment. A trend that was not observed was the increase of maximum height of the
projectile when the launch angle is increased because it was not measured in the
experiment. Overall, the experiment showed the relationships between the factors
involving free fall and projectile motion and how they affect the results when solving
for the range and the velocity of an object subjected to either concept.

References:

Gupta, R., Jawaid, A., & Thomas, J. (n.d.). Projectile Motion. Retrieved from
https://brilliant.org/wiki/projectile-motion-easy/
Jacob. (2017, August 2). What is Kinematics? Physics Answers Made Simple.
Retrieved from https://blog.cambridgecoaching.com/what-is-kinematics-physics-
answers-made-simple

Khan Academy. (n.d.). Projectiles launched at an angle review (article). Retrieved

from https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-physics-1/ap-two-dimensional-
motion/projectiles-launched-at-an-angle-ap/a/projectiles-launched-at-angles

Ling, S. J., Sanny, J., & Moebs, W. (2016). University Physics Volume 1. Houston,
TX: OpenStax.