Lab 111: Projectile Motion

Name: Razan Tatai Group Number:

Student ID: 31507657
Date of Experiment: ​09/18/2019 Date of Report Submission: ​ 09/25/2019
Course & section number: PHYS 111A-025 Instructor’s Name: Huize, Xue
Partner’s names: Rana Balah, Zeynep Gul, Nour Eltony, Druv Patel, Albert Nuedling

INSTRUCTION
OBJECTIVES

The objective of this lab is to investigate projectile motion using linear motion in the
two-dimension. Through this, students will be able to calculate the distance a target needs to be
placed in order to go through the target, and measure the distance the projectile hits the floor at a
given angle.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

When an object is launched horizontally, the acceleration due to gravity allows the object to fall
in a projectile motion. The acceleration in the x component zero and acceleration in the y
direction is 9.8. The displacement can be calculated using x=​V​0 t​ and the height launched can be
calculated by y = 12 gt2 . When an object is launched at an incline, the initial velocity and
acceleration will have both x and y components. Using Pythagorean Theorem, the x and y
components of the velocity can be calculated as well as the displacement and height launched.
These formulas can be used to predict the required distance the target needs to be for the ball to
the target.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Make sure the Mini Launcher is at 0 degrees and directly at a horizontal position. Place the
marble into the launcher and load in the shortest range position. Release the ball to see the area
the ball strikes the ground. Tape the carbon and white paper on the floor around the area that the
ball hit the ground. Launch the ball 5 times to get multiple points. Using the plumb bob, measure
the height(y) of the launch and the horizontal distance (x) from the position the ball is released
on the floor to the position the ball strikes the ground. Use the x and y components to solve for
v0. Calculate the position of the target must be placed for the ball to pass through the target hole.
Launch the ball from the mini launcher and record the actual distance the target was where the
ball passed through.
RESULTS

Table I

Trial Number 1 2 3 4 5 Average

x 148 148.5 149 147.5 145 147.6

y = 98 cm = 0.98 m V o = 0.33 m/s

Table II
Target Height [cm] Calculated D [cm] Measured D [cm] % diff

0.45 0.446 0.45 0.90%

Table III
 
Trial Number 1 2 3 Average

Distance (m) 1.3 1.315 1.350 1.322

 

Table IV
Calculated D [cm] Measured D [cm] % diff.

1.409 1.322 6.17%

3.2 CALCULATION

t= √2y/g
t = √(2(0.98)/9.8
t = 0.447 s
x = v0 * t
V o = 1.476/0.447
V o = 0.33 m/s
y ′ = 12 gt2
D = 110 cm
t = 1.1
3.3
t = 0.33 s
y − H = 12 gt′2
H = y − 12 gt′2
H = 0.98 − 12 g(0.332 )
y ′ = 0.44639 m
y = 107 cm
30, 31.5, 135 cm
− 1.07 = 3.33sin60o t − 12 gt2
t = − 0.2579
D = 3.33cosθ(0.8465) = 1.409 <− T heoretical
Actual : 1.3, 1.315, 1.35 m

Discussion
Our calculated theoretical predictions were very similar to the actual values observed. Using the
formulas we derived from the Pythagorean theorem, we were able to predict where the marble
ball would strike the ground and where the target needed to be placed for the ball to go through
the ball. The force of gravity acting on the ball was pulling it down.When the ball was launched
horizontal, the horizontal acceleration is always zero. When the ball was launched at an angle,
there is a horizontal component of the velocity.

Conclusions
This lab allowed us to get a better understanding of projectile motions as we were able to
confirm our expected values of displacement and height to what was observed in the experiment.
This showed that the formulas were an accurate representation of what happens when an object
is in 2-dimensional projectile motion.

Reference
NJIT, Department of Physics . “Laboratory Manual Physics 11A”, New Jersey , USA. 2019