Research Training

School of Physics, Faculty of Sciences

Industrial University of Santander
We build future

Ballistic pendulum

Group 6-b, Formed by:

Brayan Alexi Florez Jaimes. 2215116 - Civil Engineering.
Jhon Sebastian Mina Quilindo. 2215147 - Mechanical Engineering.
Juan Camilo Barajas Barajas. 2215148 - Mechanical Engineering.
Marlon Yamid Ramirez Mayorga. 2215119 - Civil Engineering.

SUMMARY

For this ballistic pendulum experiment, we use the concept of conservation of linear
momentum and mechanical energy to determine the initial velocity of a ball that was
propelled by a projectile launcher. A maximum reach angle is measured on three occasions
in which the weight of the pendulum arm is varied, then the necessary calculations are
made in each of the cases and compared with the exit velocity of a horizontal launch.

INTRODUCTION

Conservation principles are fundamental to Physics. Using these principles it is possible to study and
predict the evolution over time of many systems. In the specific case of Mechanics, the principles of
conservation of energy, conservation of linear momentum, and conservation of angular momentum
are of great importance. In this practice, the principle of conservation of linear momentum and the
principle of conservation of mechanical energy will be used to study the operation of a ballistic
pendulum. This is a classic device that allows you to measure how fast a projectile fires. Using a
ballistic pendulum, a projectile (pellet) of mass m is fired with a certain initial speed, and when it
hits the pendulum it becomes embedded in it. As a result of the impact, the pendulum-projectile
assembly oscillates around the suspension point, reaching a maximum height h above the point
where the collision occurred.
From the height h reached by the pendulum, we can measure its potential energy. This in turn is
equal to the kinetic energy of the system just after the collision, if we neglect the friction at the pivot
 Research Training
School of Physics, Faculty of Sciences
Industrial University of Santander
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of the pendulum. It is not possible to equate the kinetic energy of the pendulum just before the
collision with the kinetic energy of the projectile just after it, since the collision is inelastic. However,
since linear momentum (momentum) is conserved in every collision, the linear momentum of the
projectile-pendulum system, just before and just after the collision, can be equalized.

METHODOLOGY

For this laboratory, a cannon was used which has a pendulum (arm), proceeding in such a
way that a ball (mara) is fired, which comes out with an initial speed V_i, which then impacts
with the pendulum and produces an inelastic collision.
Taking into account the conservation of linear momentum before and after the collision as
follows:
m𝑉𝑖 +0 = (m+M) 𝑉𝑓 +0; where m= mass of themara and M is the mass of the pendulum.
And the kinetic energy after the collision is assumed to be equal to the potential energy:
1/2(m+M) 𝑉𝑓 ^2=(m+M)gh; where h= L-Lcosθ, in turn, L= length of the pendulum, and θ is
the angle reached by the pendulum.
Three launches are made in which the mass of the pendulum is varied for each one of the
launches, the calculations are made and finally, the margin of error of the V_i between the
launcher and a horizontal launch is found.
PROCESS DATING

The necessary calculations are made taking into account:

Pendulum mass= 0.144 kg, additional mass 1 = 0.051 kg, additional mass 2 =0.051 kg
mara mass= 0.067 kg
Pendulum length= 0.305

Table 1: presentation of the calculations taken in the laboratory.

Launch Mass(kg) Angle (θ) h reached (m)
1 0,144 46° 0,0931
2 0,262 36° 0.0582
3 0,313 25° 0,0286

To calculate the initial speed of each launch we will take into account the aforementioned:
m𝑉𝑖 +0 = (m+M)𝑉𝑓 +0 1.
1
(𝑚 + 𝑀)𝑉𝑓 2=(m+M)gh 2.
2
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From equation 2. 𝑉𝑓 is cleared, we have that:

𝑉𝑓 = √2𝑔ℎ 3.
Then we replace 3. In 1. And solve 𝑉𝑖
m𝑉𝑖 = (m+M) (√2𝑔ℎ)
(𝑚+𝑀)(√2𝑔ℎ)
𝑉𝑖 = 𝑚

Table 2. Final and initial velocities in each of the throws

𝑚 𝑚
launch Velocity 𝑉𝑓 ( ) Velocity 𝑉𝑖 ( )
𝑠 𝑠
1 1,350 4,251
2 1,068 4,176
3 0,747 3,489

Initial speed achieved by the horizontal launch.

2ℎ
X=𝑉𝑖 (√ 𝑔 )
For this case you have to x= 1,743 m; h= 0,985 m.

Table 3. Comparison of the average of the launcher's initial velocities with the initial
velocity of the horizontal launch
𝑚 𝑚
launcher initial velocity( ) Horizontal Launch Initial Velocity ( ) % error
𝑠 𝑠
4,251
4,176 3,887
2,5
3,489
Average = 3,968 3,887
 Research Training
School of Physics, Faculty of Sciences
Industrial University of Santander
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GRAPH 1. Representation of speeds

3,980

3,960

3,940
Velocity (m/s)

3,920
Horizontal Launch velocity
3,968
3,900 Caster velocity

3,880

3,887
3,860

3,840
1

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

Once the calculations have been carried out and organized, it can be shown that the
procedures carried out in the laboratory were done in an appropriate manner, it is observed
that in launch 3 there is a greater difference in the result of the speed concerning the other
two previous launches. but when making the average to calculate the margin of error
concerning the horizontal launch, it favors us. It is believed that this margin of error may be
𝑚
involved in approximation errors, also in the assumed value of gravity (9,8 𝑠2 ).
However, a small margin of error is observed, therefore it can be inferred that the processes
carried out in it were correct.
 Research Training
School of Physics, Faculty of Sciences
Industrial University of Santander
We build future

CONCLUSIONS

The concept of inelastic collisions was evidenced in this laboratory, which tells us that in
an inelastic collision the internal forces do work, so the kinetic energy of the system no
longer remains constant, although the linear momentum continues to be conserved. If the
work of the internal forces is negative, the kinetic energy of the system will decrease
during the collision.

In this work, we were able to fulfill our objective of both learning and doing things well,
since we delved into the conservation of mechanical energy and linear momentum, and
the results obtained, despite not being very exact, are quite satisfactory.

REFERENCES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F6deDoKLoE
https://ejerciciosdefisica.com/movimiento-parabolico/
http://galia.fc.uaslp.mx/~medellin/Applets/riel/Riel.htm
https://www2.montes.upm.es/dptos/digfa/cfisica/dinamsist/colisiones.html