Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Pablo Borbon Main II, Alangilan, Batangas City
College of Engineering, Architecture and Fine Arts
www.batstate-u.edu.ph Telefax (043) 425-0139 locs. 118

ELECTRONICS, INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL, AND MECHATRONICS

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

SCI 403 – PHYSICS 1

APPLICATION OF PHYSICS

“CANNON BALL: WHERE DOES IT GO FARTHEST?”

SECTION: MEXE 1201

UNKNOWN

MEMBERS: SIGNATURE:
BARRACA, SHERYL MAE A. _______________________
GARCIA, MAR CARLO R. _______________________
MENDOZA, JHED YOLDAN A. _______________________
PASIA, MARC NICOLE M. _______________________
SULIT, MARJORIE G. _______________________

ENGR. RODEL A. TEJADA

INSTRUCTOR

MAY 15, 2019

I. INTRODUCTION

In every motion of a particular body, there will always be a specific calculation of it which
can be either horizontally or vertically depending upon how it was launched. If a body underwent
through gravity, the motion done is projectile giving its initial velocity with an initial angle of release.
It is also significant to know the horizontal component and vertical component of the motion which
is Vₓ and Vy with respect to its initial velocity, Vo.

In a projectile motion, angle, velocity, acceleration due to gravity, displacement and time
are significantly considered as well as the relation of the air to be able to calculate the motion of
a certain body with respect to its x-axis (horizontal component) and y-axis (vertical component).
A projectile moves at a constant speed in the horizontal direction while experiencing a constant
acceleration of 9.8 m/s2 downwards in the vertical direction. To be consistent, we define the
upwards direction to be the positive direction. Therefore the acceleration of gravity is, -9.8 m/s2.

Simply, when an object is projected and launched at a given angle, the range or distance
that goes horizontally can probably be determined using a specific formula given for its
calculation. When the projectile is launched at a steep angle, it spends more time in the air than
it does when launched at a shallow angle. When the projectile is launched at a shallow angle, it
goes faster in the horizontal direction than if it is launched at a steep angle.

The ideal combination of time in the air and horizontal speed occurs at 45°. Thus the
maximum range or distance occurs when the projectile is launched at this angle. However, if the
projectile starts at a point higher than where it lands, the ideal distance doesn't occur at a 45°
angle. If you calculate the range for a projectile launched at 30°, you will find it's the same as a
projectile launched at 60°.

In this project, "Cannon Ball: Where Does It Go Farthest?", the proponents used tissue
roll, plywood, ball, board, and spring for the specific needed materials to execute the experiment
and other tools and equipment to build the prototype. The experiment that would be done will
examine or prove that given that equal forces will act on a certain body; aiming it at 45° will give
the longest range. To be able to determine the longest range at specific angle, the proponents
used the formula,

X = Vo2 sin (2Ɵ)

g
 II. OBJECTIVES

 To create a prototype that shows projectile motion of an object (ball).

 To prove that the projectile motion of the object is at the longest range when
launched at 45° given equal force is applied.
 To show that complementary angles will have equal range.

III. MATERIALS, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

MATERIALS

Spring Plywood

It was compressed to determine the It was assembled and used as the

starting point of where the ball must main foundation of the prototype
be release. It releases the ball when where the marks of the given angles
the stick was removed on it. are found and a piece of circle.
 Tissue roll/ Tube Marker

It supports the spring and the ball It was used to cover the plywood
from moving. with a black color.

Poster color Nails

It was used to make the tube looks These were used to fix the base.
more presentable.
 Sticks Cardboard

These were used to lock the cannon on the It was used for the other circle fixed on the
base and also to pull the string to release string.
the ball.

Ball

It was the object that was being release

to determine the distance covered by the
given angles.

Board

It is where the ball lands and was used to

prevent the ball from continuous rolling.
 TOOLS

Hammer Protractor

It was used to whack the nail to fix the It was used to measure angles at 30°,
base. 45° and 60°.

Saw Measuring tape

It is used to cut the plywood. It is used to determine the distance

travelled by the ball.
 Paint Brush Timer

It was used to paint the cannon. It was used to distinguish the time consumed
after the ball was released at a given angle.

EQUIPMENT

Drill

It is used to make holes on the plywood that

serves as the pattern to produce the arc.
 Table 1. Bill of Materials

Materials Quantity Unit Amount

Spring 1 pc ₱0.00
Plywood 2 pcs ₱0.00
Ball & Board 1 pc ₱0.00
Tissue roll (tube) 1 pc ₱0.00
Poster Color 1 pc ₱0.00
Marker 3 pcs ₱0.00
Sticks 3 pcs ₱0.00
Cardboard 1 pc ₱0.00
Nail 12 pcs ₱0.00
TOTAL: ₱0.00

IV. PROCEDURES

1) Brainstorming and planning for the final project. The proponents first tackled what specific
topic should be used before planning the laboratory project to be made. The proponents
agreed to the concept of showing the curvilinear projectile of motion. Each proponent
shares ideas on how to accomplish the project goal.

2) Sketching the desired output of the prototype.

3) Discussing the materials to be used. The group decided to use a ball, spring, nails,
plywood, protractor, sticks and measuring tape.
4) Gathering the materials needed. Since the materials that the proponents have decided to
use can be found at home, each member voluntarily bring the things that they have.
5) Assembling the prototype.

For the base:

a. Cut a half protractor-like on the plywood using electric drill first before using the
saw to easily cut the curve shape of the base.
b. Make a measurement of the angle at 30°, 45° and 60° and mark it. Then, make a
hole in each respected angle on both sides of the curves.

c. Cut rectangular shapes on the plywood that are measured for the width and height
of the base.
d. Fix the materials that were cut using nails to make the base stable.

e. Use the marker to cover the base with a black color and put a mark of the angles
at 30°, 45° and 60°.
For the cannon:

a. Prepare the tissue roll which serves as the cannon.

b. Make two horizontal holes on the side up to the other side of the tissue roll and
put the sticks in it.
c. Cut a circle on the plywood that will fit inside the tissue roll and make another one
on the cardboard. Try to put a stick inside the whole made on the circle to make
sure that the cannon will be stable on the base.

d. Get the spring of the notebook and fix it on both sides of the circles.
 e. Use the silver poster color to make the cannon look like a real one or presentable.

6) Look for the possible ball to be used that is fitted inside the cannon and for the surface
where the ball will land and resist the ball to roll.

For the ball and surface, use the toy found as an alternative.
7) Testing the prototype.

a. Prepare and set up the base, cannon, spring, ball, board (surface), measuring tape
and timer.
b. Put the spring inside the cannon and insert the stick between the holes on the
sides of the cannon.
c. Put the cannon inside the base. Get the stick and insert it on the holes made for
each initial angle.

d. Place the board any farther from the cannon.

e. Use the measuring tape to measure the range after the projectile is launched and
timer to know how fast the ball drops.
f. Place the ball inside the cannon where the ball rest at the base of the spring and
then pull the spring using the stick. Hold the stick for a while, remove it with giving
force on releasing the ball.
g. Make 3 trials to make sure that 30° and 60° are complementary angles which will
have the same or close distance and 45° will have the longest distance after the
ball was launched.
h. After the 3 trials at each angle, the proponents get the average time and distance
at 30°, 45° and 60°.
Final Output
V. DATA AND RESULTS

During the experiment, the proponents will be able to determine the range or distance
respectively at given angles on which the projectile launches.

Angle at 30°

Trials Time Range/Distance

1st 0.25 s 1.09 m
2nd 0.39 s 1.137 m
3rd 0.30 s 1.22 m
Average 0.31s 1.15 m

Angle at 45°

Trials Time Range/Distance

1st 0.42 s 1.44 m
2nd 0.36 s 1.13 m
3rd 0.38 s 1.25 m
Average 0.39 s 1.27 m

Angle at 60°

Trials Time Range/Distance

1st 0.23 s 1.07 m
2nd 0.28 s 1.10m
3rd 0.38 s 1.14 m
Average 0.30 s 1.10 m

This experiment brought the proponents a conclusion that the consistency of the distance
covered by the ball was questionable due to unstable spring within the cannon, so the proponents
decided to have at least 3 trials to prove the accuracy of the range that at 45°, the distance of the
projectile motion of the ball is farthest. It is farthest or has the longest range or distance when it
was launched 45° at which the distance is equal to 1.27 m at 0.39 s with almost the same force
acting upon the ball. It was also proven that 60° and its complementary angle 30° have almost
the same distance reached when the ball is launched having a distance of 1.125 m, at 0.30 s.
VI. CONCLUSION

In this experiment, the theory of getting the

longest range at 45° and showing 30° and
Barraca, Sheryl Mae A.
60° are complementary angles after the ball
was launched have been somewhat proven
as the group had undergone on 3 trials at
each respective angle required. It is
significant that the force applied before the
ball releases is equal so that there will not be
some failures on projecting the ball. But
since that the force applied on it is given
through human force on pulling the spring to
throw the ball, the group got some conflict
and faced least errors to get the desire
distance at each angle. Yet, those 3 trials
took at 30°, 45° and 60° will be used to get
each average on time and distance.

Garcia, Mar Carlo R.

In order to prove clearly that an object in
projectile motion will have its longest range
at 45 and that complementary angles will
have equal range, one must make sure that
equal forces will be applied on the object, the
weight must be equal and also external
factors like air must be considered. These
factors must be greatly considered because
it plays also a big role in the experiment.
Mendoza, Jhed Yoldan A.
As a student of BS Mechatronics
Engineering, with the help of this
experiment, I conclude that the projectile
motion will reach farthest 45° above the
horizontal with the same force acting
upon on it. I also conclude that projectile
motion in 60° and its complementary
angle 30° have the same distance
reached after lunching the ball to the
surface. The weight of the ball must also
be considered in this experiment.

Pasia, Marc Nicole M.

This project is about the distance

travelled by the ball at different angles. It
proves the theory that the 45° has the
farthest distance to travel. While the 30°
and 60° have accurate result. It was not
always equal because of external factors
like the air resistance.
 The experiment that the group undergone
Sulit, Marjorie G. proved that the cannon ball went farthest
at the angle of 45° and it has the same or
close range and time at the angle of 30°
and 60°. Also, the range of the
complementary angles became
inaccurate because the used spring is just
an alternative got from the notebook which
is somehow become a problem as we lack
out of time to look and provide for another
one. Meanwhile, the time inaccuracy
maybe due to human error. Since that we
are not able to use durable and
appropriate materials, minimal problems
have been encountered. By some means,
the group have been proven the theory
that 45° has the longest range and 30° and
60° are complementary angles having
equal or close range. In addition, it is
important to have teamwork and patience
to make an experiment successful.