De La Salle University, Dasmariñas

College of Science
Physical Sciences Department

Experiment 4

PROJECTILE MOTION

Submitted by:

Ma. Laarni U. Felipe

BSN12

Submitted to:

Prof. Jameson Eusebio

Date Performed: April 27, 2009

Date Submitted: April 30, 2009

SCORE:
I. ABSTRACT

A projectile motion is a special case of two dimensional motion with constant acceleration. In this
experiment, the group deciphers the importance of projectile and its application in our daily living. The
experiment started with assembling the needed materials and positioning the protractor on the Pasco long
range projectile launcher. The marble was released using he first angle which is 15 degrees, a graphing
paper and a carbon paper was placed at the landing point and was fastened using a Scotch tape. The
marble was released from the projectile launcher for three times and the landing spot of the projectile was
recorded at the paper. Then, the carbon paper was removed and the range covered was measured,
recorded and the average range was computed. The steps were repeated again but this time the next
angles were used which is from 15 degrees to 75 degrees.

II. INTRODUCTION

A projectile motion involves two components of motion – vertical and horizontal.

Characteristically, motion in one direction is independent of motion in another direction. Projectile motion
is a special case of two dimensional motion with constant acceleration. Here, force due to gravity
moderates linear motion of an object thrown at certain angle to the vertical direction. The resulting
acceleration is a constant, which is always directed in vertically downward direction.

The projectile motion emphasizes one important aspect of constant acceleration that even
constant acceleration, which is essentially unidirectional, is capable to produce two dimensional motion.
The basic reason is that force and initial velocity of the object are not along the same direction. The linear
motion of the projected object is continuously worked upon by the gravity, which results in the change of
both magnitude and direction of the velocity. A change in direction of the velocity ensures that motion is
not one dimensional.

The change in magnitude and direction of the velocity is superbly managed so that time rate of
change in velocity is always directed in vertically downward direction i.e. in the direction of gravity.

III. OBJECTIVES

 Determine the effect of angle of projection on the range of a projectile at any given initial velocity.
 Determine the maximum range of a projectile.

IV. MATERIALS AND APPARATUS

The experiment used the following: a marble, a meter tape, a PASCO long range projectile
launcher, carbon paper, graphing papers and scotch tape.

V. DATA AND RESULTS

The projectile motion experiment gathered the following results:

Angle of throw Angle of range (m)

15 degrees 1.77 m
30 degrees 2.02 m
45 degrees 2.14 m
60 degrees 1.77 m
75 degrees 1.00 m

Angle with the maximum range: 45 degrees

 The graph of Range against the Angle of Throw

VI. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

The angle of throw obtained its longest range at the angle of 45 degrees. The consecutive angles
which are the 60 and the 75 degrees produced a shorter range.

VII. COMPUTATIONS

(See separate paper)

VIII. CONCLUSION

Therefore, the range is a maximum for an angle of 45°. In addition, for any angle other than 45°, a
point having Cartesian coordinates (R, 0) can be reached by using either one of two complementary
values of an angle, such as 75° and 15°. The maximum height and time of flight for one of these values of
angle are different from the maximum height and time of flight for the complementary value.

IX. QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

1. What does the graph of range against angle of projection suggest?

2. Under what conditions can you have two-dimensional motion with one dimensional
acceleration?

Two dimensional motion with one dimensional acceleration can be achieve through a
projectile motion in vertical direction because it is moderated by the constant force due to
gravity. This motion, therefore, is described by one dimensional equations of motion for
constant acceleration.

3. A projectile is launched at a certain angle. After 4s, it is observed that it hits the top of a
building 500 m away. The height of the building is 50 m. At what angle as the projectile
launched?( See separate paper)

4. A projectile is launched at a velocity of 125 m/s at an angle of 20 degrees. A building is

200 m away. At what height above the ground will the projectile strike the building?( See
separate paper)

X. REFERENCES

1.) Reyes, Suspicio et al.Physics: Laboratory Manual in Mechanics, Energy and Thermodynamics.
Navotas Press: Navotas City 2008
2.) Halliday, Resnick et al. Fundamentals of physics. 2005.
3.) Serway et al. College Physics.2007.
4.) Projectile motion. Retrieved from
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/vectors/u3l2a.html on April 24, 2009.
5.) Singh, Sunil Kumar.Projectile motion: module. Retrieved from Creative Commons License Open
Educational Resources on April 24, 2009.