Projectile Motion Experiment

September 26th, 2017

Conducted by

1. Phatsakorn Rodphol (Field) #5961175

2. Achitphol Poollarp (Tarn) #5961164

3. Watcharit Polsen (Wade) #5961154

Class: 11-01

This lab report was made for Accerelated Physics experiment.

Teacher & Supervisor: Ms. Susana Allulod

Experiment conducted at: Mahidol University International

Demonstration School (MUIDS)

 1

Introduction:

Projectile is considered when the object is launch in the air. When a ball is kicked up

high, there is a projectile motion occurred. Even when the ball is thrown in a baseball game,

the motion of the ball is directed through projectile pathway. Calculating projectile needs to

calculate both x and y component. The resultant velocity is calculated by combining x and y

components. The X component is everything in horizontal axis, and Y component is

everything in vertical axis. Projectile motion follows parabolic pathway which means that

time from the starting point to the highest point is equal to the time from the highest point to

the ground. The acceleration of Y axis always be negative ten because of the acceleration,

and acceleration in x axis is equal to zero. The purpose of this experiment is to calculate the

projectile angle which results the farthest distance.

Objective:

The objective of this experiment is to make the student understand more about the

projectile motion and the force based on both horizontal and vertical line through the

experiment by making comparison between distance when the ball was launched out of the

launcher at different angles.

 2

Materials:

1. Projectile Launcher

2. Lab Quest

3. Metal Balls

4. Carbon Tape

5. Protective Goggles

6. Measuring rope

7. Pressure Gauge
 3

Procedure:

A.The velocity of a projectile

1.Check the levelling, pressure and range combination. Use low range possible and keep it

constant throughout the experiment. Note and record the pressure

2.Insert the ball into the launcher and fire the ball out across the table. make note of the

approximate spot where it hits the table.

3.Place on this spot a paper tape. Make 3 trials by firing the projectile horizontally and

measure the range for each shot.

4.With the ball placed in the firing rod, measure the vertical height from the bottom of the

ball to the table.Compute and record the initial velocity of the projectile.

5.Show the derivation of initial velocity formula and all calculations.

B. Range against angle of a projectile.

1.Position the apparatus in such a way that it can be fired at various angles above the

horizontal.

2.Fire the projectile at angles of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 degrees,

3.From the range formula determine the angle for maximum range.

4.Compare your answer in procedure 3 with the angle for maximum range based on the

experimental value. Get the % difference.

5.Show the derivation of range formula and show all calculations.

 4

Set-up the experiment

 5

# Data A #

Objective: Using the pressure 100, and a degree of 0;

Number of Trail Distance the ball traveled (cm.)

# 1 79.9
# 2 81.9
# 3 78.4
Average distance: 80.06 cm

# Data B #

Objective: Using the pressure 100, and a degree of 10;

Number of Trail Distance the ball traveled (cm.)

# 1 137.1
# 2 132.9
# 3 134.6
Average distance: 134.87 cm

Objective: Using the pressure 100, and a degree of 20;

Number of Trail Distance the ball traveled

(cm.)
# 1 198.0
# 2 199.0
# 3 200.0
Average distance: 199.0 cm
 6

Objective: Using the pressure 100, and a degree of 30;

Number of Trail Distance the ball traveled

(cm.)
# 1 261.4
# 2 256.6
# 3 261.8
Average Distance: 259.93 cm

Objective: Using the pressure 100, and a degree of 40;

Number of Trail Distance the ball traveled (cm.)

# 1 286.8
# 2 287.5
# 3 282.3
Average Distance: 285.53 cm

Objective: Using the pressure 100, and a degree of 45;

Number of Trail Distance the ball traveled (cm.)

# 1 290.3
# 2 285.3
# 3 284.3
Average Distance: 286.63 cm
 7

Objective: Using the pressure 100, and a degree of 50;

Number of Trail Distance the ball traveled (cm.)

# 1 278.2
# 2 283.2
# 3 281.0
Average Distance: 280.8 cm

Objective: Using the pressure 100, and a degree of 60;

Number of Trail Distance the ball traveled (cm.)

# 1 248.5
# 2 248.5
# 3 250.0
Average Distance: 249 cm

Objective: Using the pressure 100, and a degree of 70;

Number of Trail Distance the ball traveled (cm.)

# 1 186.6
# 2 183.2
# 3 187.4
Average Distance: 185.73 cm

From Data B, we can see that the maximum range the ball can travel by the

launcher is at 45 degrees.
 8

Calculation #1:
 9

Calculation #2:
 10

Analysis:

According to the experiment, at different angles ranged from 0 to 90, the distance of

each trial when launching a ball had increased and decreased in respective order. At 0-30 and

50-70 degree, the difference of distance was around (+/-) 50 ~ 60 cm whilst in range 30-50

degree was around (+/-) 10 ~ 30 cm. These differences in distance were based from the

amount of force applied in either x-axis or y-axis components. From what we learnt, when

draw a force line with an angle, the force moved along the horizontal line (x-axis) is

calculated by using cosine of the angle multiply with the given force. Likewise, the force

along vertical line (y-axis) used sine of the angle multiply with the given force in order to

find the force moved vertically. And based on the experiment itself, we found out that at 45

degree angle the distance of the ball traveled is the highest of all. So, link the idea of finding

force on the horizontal axis, from 0 to 45 degrees, value of cosine is more than sine. this

make the ball traveled further in horizontal line. However, when the angle changed into 50 to

90 degrees, the value of sine is more than cosine which made the distance start to decrease

until it moved only up and down at an angle of 90.

Conclusion:

We can conclude that, using the same pressure throughout the experiment and all

resistance force were neglected, firing a ball at an angle 45 degrees above the ground gave the

highest pushing force in range of 0 to 90. At this range, the force based on the x-axis using

cosine angle gave out more force to go along the line horizontally than going vertically.
 11

Recommendation:

We should place the carbon tape before shooting the projectile launcher. Well assign

roles specifically so that no one does the same job and mix up the procedure. We had less

time in the experiment, so next time we have to manage our time wisely. In addition, the tape

should be place straight due to the launcher so that the ball lands on the tape.

Reference:

What is a Projectile? (n.d.) Retrieved from

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/vectors/u3l2a.cfm

Khan Academy. (n.d.) What is 2D projectile motion? Retrieved from

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/two-dimensional-motion/two-dimensi

onal-projectile-mot/a/what

Work Log:

Name: Job:
Tarn Calculations, Introduction,
Objective
Field Conclusion, Introduction, Objective
Wade Result & Data, Set-Up, Analysis &
Conclusion,

** Highlighted words refers to the person specific job in this report. **