DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY

APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

In-Lab Assignment: Projectile Motion

PHY 1103, Section Date: Name: Michael Gonzalez

● Make sure that you read the introduction and complete the Pre-lab Quiz on Asulearn before starting
the lab.
● Use the question forum if you have questions on the Quiz or the lab. Someone else may have the
answer or the same question!
● This lab will be conducted on-line and ​each student will submit an individual lab report​. YOU MAY
NOT COLLABORATE ON THESE LABS WITH ANYONE ELSE.
● Note​: You need to make a copy of this document and save to your own google drive using
“​File>Make a Copy​” in order to have editing permission. Do not email asking for permission to edit
this document.
● After completing the lab, make sure that you contribute to the Post-lab Discussion forum!

Purpose
Students will predict the mathematical description of two dimensional motion and compare their
predictions to a simulation. They will also predict a graphical representation of two dimensional motion
and compare their predictions to a video analysis of that motion.

Necessary Equipment
PhET Projectile Motion HTML5 simulator
You will use a simulator to investigate projectile motion. The simulator is from the PhET Interactive
Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder.
i. From your web browser, go to
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/projectile-motion/latest/projectile-motion_en.html​. You can
also look for “phet projectile motion” from a search
engine and choose an appropriate result. There is a
description of required software
ii. Open the simulation by clicking on the arrow over the
diagram. You also have the option to download the
simulation and run it from a different browser
iii. Choose​ Intro​.

Vernier Video Analysis

● Video ​to help open and use Vernier Video Analysis.
● Document​ to help open and use Vernier Video Analysis

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Introduction: Projectile Motion

In the past two labs you have experimented with both one dimensional horizontal motion and one
dimensional vertical motion. In this lab, you will be experimenting with two dimensional free fall motion.
Remember that free fall motion is defined as motion that occurs when an object falls or rises under the
influence of gravity in the absence of air or without being in contact with another object. One dimensional
free fall motion occurs if an object is falling straight down or rising straight up. Two dimensional free fall
motion occurs when an object has both horizontal and vertical motion. It is this two dimensional free fall
motion that you will be studying during lab today. Two dimensional free fall motion is called ​projectile
motion​.

As covered in the last two labs, there are several ways to discuss motion including conceptually, using
pictures, mathematically, and graphically. In this lab, you will be using concepts, pictures, and
mathematics to describe motion. If you are not comfortable with these three methods, you should refer
back to past labs where they are discussed more thoroughly.

Mathematical Description of Motion

The mathematical description of two dimensional motion is more complicated than the mathematical
description of one dimensional motion, although we use the same equations. The kinematic equations you
have used to describe constant acceleration motion for objects moving in one dimension are still valid.
Those kinematic equations are:

x​-direction motion y-​ direction motion

(horizontal) (vertical)

v x = v x0 + ax t v y = v y0 + ay t

v x 2 = v x0 2 + 2ax (x − x0 ) v y 2 = v y0 2 + 2ay (y − y 0 )

x = x0 + v x0 t + 21 ax t2 y = y 0 + v y0 t + 21 ay t2

v x +v x0 v y +v y0
v x(average) = 2 v y(average) = 2

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Some important concepts about projectile motion that are often

confusing include:
1. You must always define an origin (or a zero point) and the
positive directions. For projectile motion, upward is usually
designated as the positive ​y​-direction and to the right is usually
designated as the positive ​x​-direction. Often, the ground is
designated as the zero point. An example of this kind of picture
is shown to the right. The zero point and designated positive
directions completely determine whether positions, velocities,
and accelerations are positive or negative, so ALWAYS
designate a zero point and positive direction in every problem
that you do.

2. An object undergoing two dimensional free fall motion, or projectile motion, has the same rules in the
vertical direction as an object undergoing one dimensional free fall motion. Those rules follow.

a. The vertical velocity is always changing and can be positive or negative, based on the object’s
direction of motion.

b. The vertical acceleration at every point along its path is ALWAYS the same and downward, even
if the ball is rising. Near the Earth’s surface, that acceleration can be estimated to be a​y​ = -9.8
m/s​2​ (downward).

c. The instant before an object hits the ground it has its largest downward vertical velocity. The
instant the object comes in contact with the ground, it might have a zero velocity, but when the
ground is touching it, it is no longer in projectile motion. The only time during free fall that the
vertical velocity is zero is at the very top of the motion.

d. An object’s vertical speed is the same at the same height, whether moving up or down. If an
object starts and ends at the same height, the time spent going up is the same as the time spent
going down.

3. The new thing with projectile motion is that there is now a horizontal component to the motion in
addition to the vertical component.

a. The horizontal acceleration is zero, even though the object has a horizontal velocity. This is
because the Earth is the only thing affecting the object, and it only pulls on the object downward.
There is nothing affecting the object horizontally while it is in free fall. At one time, something
was affecting the object horizontally, a person threw it, a foot kicked it, etc., but the object is only
undergoing projectile motion AFTER the person stops touching it. During the time when it
undergoes projectile motion, the horizontal acceleration is zero.

b. Because horizontal acceleration is zero, the horizontal velocity must be constant. At the very top
of the motion, the vertical velocity is zero, but the object still has a horizontal velocity.

c. The total horizontal displacement has a special name and is called the ​range​.

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Figure 1:​ Projectile motion of a particle with velocity vectors.

(Knight Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 4​th​ ed., Thompson Higher Ed)

The picture in Figure 1 summarizes both the vertical and horizontal velocities for two-dimensional free
fall motion.

Problem Solving Steps for Objects Moving In Two Dimensions in

Free Fall Conditions
1. Read the problem carefully.

2. Draw a diagram of the motion, choosing an origin and the x and y axes.

3. List knowns and unknowns, breaking any vectors into x and y components

● If you are given an initial speed and angle, then the break velocity into components:
v x0 = v 0 cosθ ; v y0 = v 0 sinθ
2​
● Implied knows: ​ax​ =
​ 0 m/s​ ; a​y ​= -g = -9.8 m/s​
2

● v y = 0 m/s at the highest possible point in the trajectory.

4. Analyze horizontal motion (x) separate from vertical (y) free-fall motion. Remember that time is
the same for both.

Example:​ A movie stunt driver on a motorcycle is going at a speed of 28.0 m/s when they launch
horizontally off a 50.0 m high cliff. What time will they be in the air from if they took off from the top of
the cliff to when they land on the level ground below? What horizontal distance will they travel before
hitting the level ground?

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Solution: If the driver is launching horizontally off the cliff their initial position is at point C on
Figure 1, where the velocity of the driver is parallel to the ​x​-axis. This means that the velocity in the
y​-direction is zero. The driver’s final position is point E.

We have the initial and final position in the y direction, use those to find time, ​Δt:​

y = y 0 + v y0 ∆t + 12 ay (∆t)2

Where ay =− 9.80 sm2 , v y0 = 0, y 0 = h = 50.0 m, and y = 0 :

0 = h + 0 + 12 ay (∆t)2
1
a (∆t)2
2 y
=− h

(∆t)2 = −h
1a
2 y

(∆t)2 = −2h
−g
= 2h
g

√
2(50.0 m)
√
2h
∆t = g
= 9.80 m/s2
= 3.19 s

Now, find the final horizontal distance, ​x​:

x = x0 + v x0 ∆t + 12 ax (∆t)2

Where x0 = 0 m, v x0 = 28.0 ms , and ax = 0 m

s2 :

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DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

x = 0 + v x0 ∆t + 0

x = v x0 ∆t

x = v x0 (√ ) 2h
g

x = (28.0 m/s) (√ 2(50.0 m)

9.80 m/s2 ) = 89.4 m

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Lab Activities
Activity One –Mathematical Description of Motion in 2 Dimensions
In the last lab, we considered a ball bouncing in 1 dimension under free fall conditions. This lab, we will
expand our understanding of free fall conditions to 2 dimensions and look at the motion in both the
horizontal and vertical dimensions.

Figure 2. ​Ball bouncing under free fall in 2 dimensions. ​(Knight Physics for Scientists and
Engineers, 4​th​ ed., Thompson Higher Ed)

Question 1: A ball rolls off a table of height ​h​ with a horizontal velocity of ​vx0 ​ ​and a vertical
acceleration of ​a​y ​=​ -​g.​ It will land on the floor some distance away.​ Draw a picture​ of the motion of
the ball. The picture should include: the origin of your x-y axes (it is easiest if you put the origin on
the floor at the edge of the table); the initial height of the ball, ​h​; a vector showing the direction of the
initial velocity v​x0​; some indication of the trajectory of the ball and the predicted location that the ball
will land. You should also include a title and label your axes following the checklist outlined for
predictions​.

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

You are going to answer some questions but with no numbers, only using given symbols (​h,​ ​v​x0​, and ​g).​
You can also plug in zero for anything you know to be zero. We call this ​solving the problem
symbolically​. Physicists often use symbols instead of numbers to solve problems. The benefit of this is
that you come up with a mathematical expression that can be used in any situation that is the same as the
situation you have solved for​. In the long run it saves you time, even though it is more difficult to do.
Use insert>equation and the following link to help with f​ ormatting equations.​

Question 2: Find the time, ​Δt,​ it takes the ball to fall from the table of height h to the floor with a
horizontal velocity of ​v​x0 ​and a vertical acceleration of a​ ​y =
​ ​ -​g.​ Show the original kinematic equation
you started from. Your answer will be an equation (not a number) in terms of ​h​ and ​g. ​You are
developing this generic equation to use in the next question. (Hint: if the ball’s initial velocity is only
in the horizontal, then the initial velocity in the vertical direction is zero.)
Kinematic equation​ started with: Δy = v i t + 21 at2

Δt ​(in terms of h and g) = t = √Δy + 4.9

Question 3: At what horizontal distance,​ x​ from the edge of the table does the ball hit the floor? Show
the original kinematic equation you started from. Your answer will be an equation (not a number) in
terms of ​h​, ​vx0
​ ​, and ​g. Y
​ ou are developing this generic equation to use later in the lab.
Kinematic equation​ started with: Δx = v i t + 21 at2

x​f​ (​ in terms of ​v​x0, h,

​ and g) = Δx = v i t

Question 4: Use your equations to calculate ​Δt​ and ​x​, using a height of​ h​ = 10 m and a horizontal
​ ​ = 12 m/s​.
velocity of ​vx0
Δt ​(in s) = 3.86s

x​f​ (​ in m) = 4.632m

Activity Two - Simulation of Two-Dimensional Motion

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

You will now check your solution with the ​PhET Projectile Motion​ simulation. The
intro tab is the only one that you need to use for this activity.

Question 5: Set the simulation to the values from the previous question (​h​ = 10 m and a horizontal
​ ​ = 12 m/s), make sure the cannon is at 0 degrees, and then use the tape measure to
velocity of ​vx0
measure the horizontal distance that your object traveled. How does the calculated value compare to
the measured value? Explain with details including the values from the simulation.

My calculated values are completely wrong. The measured value traveled is 16m. This is not
remotely close to my calculated value of 4.632 meters

Question 6: Keeping the initial speed the same, what effect do you think increasing the height will
have on the range of the projectile? Explain your reasoning and then use the simulation to test your
prediction. Are they proportionally related? Explain with details including the values from the
simulation.

I predict that the object will travel farther as it has more height.Although I think with more height
the increase in distance the object travels will get shorter. The simulation confirms this showing
that with each increase the distance between the last test becomes shorter.

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Question 7: What would happen to the range of the projectile if you kept the height constant and
increased the initial speed? Explain your reasoning and then use the simulation to test your
prediction. Are they proportionally related? Explain with details including the values from the
simulation.

The range of the projectile will increase when increasing the initial speed. As you increase the
speed of the object the object will go as far as the difference from the first initial speed and the
second initial speed. The simulation also confirms this, while increasing the initial speed by one
meter, the distance increase bt one meter as well

Activity Three –Graphical Predictions for Motion in 2 Dimensions

Now that you have thought about how to use the kinematic equations to predict the motion of an object in
2 dimensional projectile motion, let us think about what the graphs of this motion would look like in both
the vertical direction (y) and horizontal direction (x). For help using linear and quadratic equations refer
to the resource ​Graphing​.

Predictions for ​Position​ in 2 Dimensional Motion:

Question 8: Make a ​prediction​ of the ​horizontal​ ​position​ versus ​time​ (​x​ vs. ​t)​ for a ball rolling off of
a table and landing on the floor. This is similar to the case you used in the simulation where you
launched at maximum height. You want to predict the entire motion ​from right after the projectile
leaves the table, down to the ground at the instant before the ball hits the ground (on its way down,
but hasn’t hit yet)​. Assume the ball leaves the table with a horizontal initial velocity.

Sketch​ a graph of horizontal position versus Explain ​your prediction in terms of the motion
time (​x​ vs. ​t)​ for a ball rolling off of a table and of the ball. Is the equation for this motion linear
landing on the floor. or quadratic? Can you use this graph to predict
the horizontal velocity of the ball?

As the ball rolls off the table the position

increases with a linear motion. This graph can
predict horizontal velocity by using the slope that
the graph creates.

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Question 9: Make a​ prediction​ of the ​vertical​ ​position​ versus ​time​ (​y​ vs. ​t​) for a ball rolling off of a
table and landing on the floor.

Sketch​ a graph of vertical position versus time Explain ​your prediction in terms of the motion of
(​y​ vs. ​t​) for a ball rolling off of a table and the ball. Is the equation for this motion linear or
landing on the floor. quadratic? Can you use this graph to predict the
vertical velocity of the ball?

This is my prediction of the vertical position of

the ball. the ball starts a t an initial height of the
table and then falls with an acceleration due to
gravity. It has a quadratic shape and you can
predict the vertical velocity because you can use
acceleration of gravity to calculate the velocity.

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Predictions for​ ​Velocity​ in 2 Dimensional Motion:

Question 10: Make a ​prediction​ of h ​ orizontal​ ​velocity​ versus ​time​ (​v​x​ vs. ​t)​ for a ball rolling off of a
table and landing on the floor. (Same situation as your position predictions.) You want to predict the
entire motion ​from right after the projectile leaves the table, down to the ground at the instant before
the ball hits the ground (on its way down, but hasn’t hit yet).​ Assume the ball leaves the table with a
horizontal initial velocity.

Sketch​ a graph of horizontal velocity versus Explain ​your prediction. Is the equation for this
time ​(vx​ ​ vs.​ t​) for a ball rolling off of a table motion linear or quadratic? Can you use this
and landing on the floor. graph to predict the horizontal acceleration of the
ball?

The ball is reaching the ground and it is getting

slower. The motion is linear and you cannot
figure out the horizontal velocity of the ball.

Question 11: Make a ​prediction​ of v​ ertical​ ​velocity​ versus t​ ime​ (​vy​ ​ vs. ​t​) for a ball rolling off of a table
and landing on the floor.
Sketch​ a graph of vertical velocity versus time Explain ​your prediction. Is the equation for this
(v​y​ vs.​ t)​ for a ball rolling off of a table and motion linear or quadratic? Can you use this
landing on the floor. graph to predict the vertical acceleration of the
ball?

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

As the ball is going down in the negative

direction, the velocity is in the negative section
but accelerating at the same time at a constant
pace. This is a linear graph and you cannot find
out the vertical velocity from this graph.

Activity Four – Experimental Results of Motion in 2 Dimensions

You are going to take a video of a ball moving in 2-dimensions and compare the experimental results of
position vs time of the ball in the x and y directions to your predictions.

Collect Data for An Object Flying off of a Horizontal

Table.
Take a video of a ball launching horizontally off of a table, making
sure you follow the procedures and helpful hints established in the
last two labs when using Vernier Video Analysis. You want to
make sure that you begin your analysis after the ball has left the
table and end your analysis just before it reaches the surface.
NOTE: You need to make sure that you are bouncing the ball in
the same plane as your horizontal scale, not in front of it or
behind it.​ (1.000 m = 1.094 yard = 3.281 ft = 39.37 in)

If you cannot take a video​, you may use the one provided on the
Vernier Video Analysis app titled “Ball and Table”.

Question 12: Open the web-based app: ​Vernier Video Analysis​.

Import your video of a ball flying horizontally off of a table or use
the provided “Ball and Table”. Establish at least 8 data points that fully describe the motion AFTER it
leaves the table. Take a screenshot of your final video, with the ​data points​ and paste it below.

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Experimental Results for ​Position​ in 2 Dimensional Motion:

Question 13: Change your graph to display only the​ horizontal position (X)​ v​ s ​time​. Does your graph
match your prediction? Summarize your prediction and discuss why your graph was similar or
different.
The position is getting farther away from zero at a constant rate. This is similar to my graph
because it is a positive linear slope. Afer x amount of time the ball is farther from the origin.

Question 14: On your ​horizontal position vs. time​ graph use the analysis tool to fit a line to your data.
In the bottom left click on ​‘Graph Tools’​ and choose the ​‘Linear’​ option. This process assumes the
data is a straight line.
a. What did Vernier calculate the slope ​m to be? Be sure to include the units. How does the shape of the
graph and the sign of the slope relate to the motion of the object in the video?

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

The calculated slope was 1.36

The linear shape of the slope means that the object has a pretty constant velocity on the way down.

b. Make a copy of your graph of horizontal ​position vs ​time ​of the ball, including the curve fit to your
file. Make sure to include a title, and label your axes well.

Question 15: Change your graph to display only the​ Vertical position (Y)​ v​ s ​time.​ Does your graph
match your prediction? Summarize your prediction and discuss why your graph was similar or
different.
Yes before the initial bounce the graphs match, where there is a quadratic slope on the position.
This is because the ball reaches zero as it goes down but it does not go straight down constantly as
acceleration due to gravity is happening.

Question 16: On your ​vertical ​position​ vs. ​time​ use the Graph Options to apply a ‘Quadratic Fit’ to
your data.

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

a. How does the shape of the graph relate to the motion of the object in the video? Does a quadratic
function seem to fit the data? What information could you get from a quadratic fit on this data?
The shape of the graph relates to the motion because it shows that the acceleration from gravity acts
on the object and makes the ball fall faster after a period of time.

b. Insert your graph of ​vertical ​position​ vs ​time​ of the ball, including the curve fit to your file. Make
sure to include a title, and label your axes well.

Experimental Results for ​Velocity​ in 2 Dimensional Motion:

In the free-fall lab we determine the acceleration from the vertical velocity vs. time graph using the
kinematic equation v y = v y0 + ay t . ​We rearrange it so that it looks like v y = ay t + v y0 we can graph
velocity ​vy​ ​ on the vertical axis and time ​t ​on the horizontal axis. Matching the vertical velocity equation to
that of a line, we see that on a velocity vs. time graph, the acceleration, ​ay​ ​ is the slope. We will do this
again to determine if your object traveling in 2 dimensions is also in free fall.

Question 17: Analyzing​ horizontal velocity (X velocity) vs. time graph to find a​x

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Change your graph to display only the horizontal ​velocity​ vs ​time​. On your horizontal velocity vs. time
graph use the analysis tool to fit a line to your data. In the bottom left click on ‘Graph Tools’ and choose
the Linear option. This process assumes the data is a straight line.

a. What did Vernier calculate the slope ​m to be? This is the acceleration due to drag and should be close
to zero (if it was not, discuss why in the experimental error question below).

m = a​x​ (in m/s​2​) = -0.1722

b. Make a copy of your graph of ​horizontal velocity vs time of the ball in a parabolic path, including
the curve fit to your file. Make sure to include a title, and label your axes well. (Hint: Set the y axis to
always scale from zero.)

Question 18: Analyzing​ vertical velocity (Y velocity) vs. time graph to find a​y
Change your graph to display only the vertical velocity vs time. On your vertical velocity vs. time graph
use the analysis tool to fit a line to your data. In the bottom left click on ​‘Graph Tools’​ (the highlighted
blue button in the figure to the right) and choose the ​‘Linear’​ option. This process assumes the data is a
straight line.

a. What did Vernier calculate the slope ​m to be? This is the local acceleration due to gravity a​y in the
equation v y = ay t + v y0 . Be sure to include the units.

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

m = a​y​ (in m/s​2​) = -8.657

b. Export your graph of ​vertical ​velocity vs ​time​, including the curve fit to a file and import below.
Make sure to include a title, and label your axes well.

Question 19: Compare the magnitude of your local acceleration due to gravity, ​a​y​ found from the slope
of your vertical velocity graph to the accepted value of ​a​y​ = ​ ​g​ = 9.80 m/s​ by using the following
2​

known value − experimental value

percent error calculation: % error = 100× || | | |
|known value|
||
| which tells you the % error
between an accepted value and an experimental value. Show all your work and be sure to track units!

% error = 11.67

Question 20: Why are your experimental values found using the video analysis of the ball in 2
dimensional motion different from the accepted values for both horizontal and vertical motion? Talk
about possible sources of error. Do NOT use the phrase ‘human error’ -- be more specific than that!!

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 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Conclusion
Question 21: Summarize your experiment and interpret the major results. It should include: 1) a short
description of ​what you did and WHY it was done​ (what was the key physics explored); 2) ​your
MAJOR results​ ​with values and units (NOT all values measured or calculated); 3) your ​% error or %
difference​ ​4) were the ​goals/purposes​ ​of the lab achieved? 5) ​identify the improvements​ that would
have the most impact on the experiment based on your sources of error and how you would
implement them in a practical manner. The conclusion should be concise (not wordy) and written in
paragraph form.

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