PHY 2048L Experiment 3: Projectile Motion
Roshni Patel
Lab Date: 05/23/19
Report Date: 05/30/19
Lab Section: MW 2:00-3:50 PM
Instructor: Paul Alessandro Tatasciore
Purpose
The purpose of this experiment is to veri
...
PHY 2048L Experiment 3: Projectile Motion
Roshni Patel
Lab Date: 05/23/19
Report Date: 05/30/19
Lab Section: MW 2:00-3:50 PM
Instructor: Paul Alessandro Tatasciore
Purpose
The purpose of this experiment is to verify the flight range and flight time of a ball launched at an angle with an initial velocity.
Theory
The theory behind this lab is based on the following drawing of the lab setup and the equations below it:
The variables represent the following:
x and y are the instantaneous horizontal and vertical positions of the ball at moment t
x = 0 the initial horizontal position of the ball
y = 0 the top level of the timing pad which is different from the floor level
θ (degree) the angle of the initial velocity above the horizontal
υ_0 (m/s) the initial speed of the ball
g = 9.80 m/s2 acceleration due to gravity
y0 (m) the initial vertical position of the ball (vertical distance from the bottom of the ball to the top of the timing pad)
γ_max (m) the highest vertical position that the ball can reach during its projectile motion
T (s) the total flight time of the ball from shot off to hit the timing pad
R (m) the flight range (horizontal distance from the release point to the landing point on the timing pad)
The lab is based on projectile motion, where an object is launched from an angle and exhibits a parabolic path. The angles and force of the launch are changed and the changes in initial speed, flight range, and total flight time are measured.
Experimental Method
The following equipment was used during the experiment: projectile launcher (ME-6800) and plastic ball, two photogates (ME-9204A), plumb bob, photogate bracket, metric tape ruler, white paper, carbon paper, time-of-flight timing pad (ME-6810), PASCO 850 interface, and a computer. The plastic ball was launched from two distances: Short Ranger and Medium Ranger. The launcher was set at 3 different angles: 0, 30, and 45. Four measurements were done with three trials each and the initial speed, flight time, and flight range were recorded:
Measurement 1: Short Ranger at 0 degrees
Measurement 2: Medium Ranger at 0 degrees
Measurement 3: Short Ranger at 30 degrees
Measurement 4: Short Ranger at 45 degrees
Questions and Exercises
Flight range R does depend on θ as seen in equation 4: R=(υ_0 cosθ) T (4)
R is dependent on the initial velocity, the angle of initial velocity, and the total flight time
Flight range R does depend on the initial velocity of the ball as seen in equation 4:
The highest vertical position that the ball can reach, γ_max, is dependent on θ as seen in equation 5:
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