Activity 3: Free fall and Projectile Motion

Belmonte, K.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Senior High School
Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila1016
1
E-mail: belmonteisel@gmail.com

Abstract. In this experiment, PhEt stimulation was used to study the motion of the body
under projectile and observe the effects of gravitational acceleration on the free-fall
motion. Two procedure was followed in this experiment, one is for Free Fall, and the
other is for Projectile motion. Through investigation, it is proven that the acceleration due
to gravity influences the free-falling object. Also, increasing the angle increases the time
in the air of the body under projectile motion. This result is significant in understanding
Newton’s second law of motion.

Keywords: Projectile, Gravitational acceleration, Free fall, Newton’s second law

of motion

PACS: 45.50.Tn, 46.55.+d, 84.30.-r

1. Introduction

The purpose of this experiment is to deeply understand the motion of the body under
projectile and free-fall motion. Using the kinematics equations, we can prove that the
gravitational acceleration affects the free-falling object. It will further explain Newton's second
law that stated that the only force that affects the freely falling object is gravity. Projectile motion
is the motion of an object thrown or projected into the air, subject to only gravity acceleration.
The object is called a projectile, and its path is called its trajectory (lumenlearning, 2020).
Changing the angle will help us to observe how the angle will affect the projectile of an object.

The significant part of this experiment entails understanding the relationship between the
acceleration, velocity, and object position. The data needed in this experiment is the stimulated
value for the change in position, time, velocity, and height. Using these simulated values, we can
compute each data's theoretical value to get the percentage error. The percentage error will help
us determine the accuracy of the data value we gathered for this experiment.
2. Methodology

The experiment was conducted by stimulation using PhEt projectile motion. The
experimenter followed two procedures in the experiment: the first one is for the Free Fall on
Other Planets, and the other is for Projectile motion. The first procedure composes four trials; in
each trial, the velocity is changed while the angle of 90 degrees and a height of 10 meters is kept
constant. In the first trial, the velocity is set to 0m/s, the second is set to 5m/s, the third is set to
10m/s, the fourth is set to 15m/s, and in the fifth trial, the velocity is set to 20m/s. In the second
procedure, there is only one trial; in the trial, the angle is set to 60 degrees and with a velocity of
20m/s with a height of 5 meters.

Figure 1. PhEt stimulation set up for Free fall motion

The figure above is the PhEt stimulation set up for Free fall. The initial height of the
canon is set to 10 meters and the angle of 90 degrees. These value are kept constant for each trial.
As the velocity change in each trial, we need to measure the time and change in position every
trial.
 Figure 2. PhEt stimulation set up for projectile motion

The figure above is the PhEt stimulation set up for Projectile motion. The canon's initial
height is set to 5 meters, and the angle is set to 60 degrees, and the initial velocity of 20 m/s. For
projectile motion, we have only one trial.

Using the stimulation above, we can get the time and change in position for each initial
velocity. The time and height are measured using the measurement tools provided in the
stimulation. The time measured is in second (s), and the height is in meter (m). The time and
height measured will be our experimental or stimulated value and used to compute other values
needed for the table.

After the data gathered, we can compute the theoretical value of time and height in each
trial. We can also compute the percentage error of the data gathered with respect to the theoretical
value.
A. Change in position: we able to get the change in position using the the equations in
uniform acceleration, for y-component as shown below.
𝛥𝑦 = 𝑣0𝑦𝑡 − ½gt
B. Percentage error: to get the difference between the stimulated and theoretical value we
can use the percentage error formula.

Percentage Error = |Accepted Value – Experimental Value|

Accepted Value X 100

C. Time: To get the theoretical value for time we can use the formula of time as shown
below.
𝑡 = √2𝑑
𝑔
D. Vertical velocity component: to compute for the velocity with respect to the vertical axis
we use the equations below.
𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣0𝑦 – gt

Where the components of x- and y-coordinates with respect to the initial velocity
is v0cosθ and v0sinθ respectively.

E. Horizontal velocity component: to compute for the velocity with respect to the horizontal
axis we use the equations below.
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣0𝑥
3. Results and Discussions

This section analyses the results of the experiment. The experiment was conducted
through stimulation, which means that human error can be eliminated. As the initial velocity for
Free fall differs in each trial, it is expected to have a different value.

Using the obtained data, we can compute both theoretical values for this experiment, as
shown in the table below. The table will help us understand the effects of the velocity in time and
the change of position of a particular object.

Initial Change in position Percentage Time at maximum Percentage

Velocity (m) Error Velocity (in s) Error
(m/s) (in %) (in %)
Stimulated Theoretical Stimulated Theoretical
0 0 0 0% 0 0 0%
5 1.27 1.28 0.78% 0.51 0.51 0%
10 5.1 5.1 0% 1.02 1.02 0%
15 11.47 11.48 0.09% 1.53 1.53 0%
20 20.39 20.41 0.83% 2.04 2.04 0%

Table 1. Free Fall on Other Planet

The stimulated value for the change in position and time is gathered using the PhEt
projectile motion, while the theoretical value is computed using the formula. For the change in
position, we use the equation in 1.1, while for the time at the maximum velocity, we use the
equation in 1.2. The value for the percentage error is computed using equation 1.3.

As shown in the table above, there is some difference in this experiment's stimulated
and theoretical value. Though the experiment was conducted through stimulation, there can be a
factor affecting the data gathered. Nonetheless, there is no huge difference in the value. The
difference in each trial value suggests that the velocity affects the change in the free-falling
object's position and time. The higher the velocity an object has, the further the displacement will
be, resulting in a long time it will take to be at maximum velocity.

Using the kinematic equations, we can prove that the gravitational acceleration affects
the free-falling object. As the acceleration is defined as the change in velocity, it means that as
the object falling the velocity will increase -9.8 m/s.

Velocity (m/s) Time (s) Height Percentage

(m) Error (in
Vx (m/s) Vy (m/s) Stimulated Experimenta
%)
l
10 3.50 0.7 1.41 14.72 50.35
10 0 1.77 1.77 20.29 0
10 3.31 2.8 1.43 15.04
 Table 2. Projectile Motion

The table above shows the data gathered for the Projectile motion. Like in the free fall,
the stimulated value was obtained through the stimulation's provided measuring tools. We use
these data to compute the experimental value. For the height, we use equation 1.1; for time, we
use equation 1.2; for vertical velocity (Vy), we use equation 1.4. And for the horizontal velocity
(Vx), we use equation 1.5.

The table above shows that Vx's value is constant since there is no acceleration in the x-
direction. While for the Vy, the value changes as the projectile effect gravity and form a parabola
shape. The time differs as the object reaches a different height. The greater the height is, the
longer time it will take to reach that certain height. Also, the velocity in maximum height
becomes 0, and it is because of a change in direction it goes down, and the acceleration decreases.

We can change the angle in each trial to see its effects on the projectile of an object. As
we increase the angle, the maximum height also increases. It will also result in an increase of time
on the air of the object. It means that the angle is directly proportional to the time and maximum
height.

4. Summary and Conclusion

In this experiment, the PhEt stimulation is used to observe the body under free fall and
projectile motion. Two procedures were followed in the experiment; for free fall, the other is for
projectile motion. For free-fall, five trial was made, while for the projectile motion has only one
trial. Even though it is conducted through stimulation, some error still happens like measuring the
data that result in a small difference in value.

To conclude, the experiment proves that the gravitational acceleration directly

influences the free-falling object. Also, the projectile motion angle affects the projectile of the
body, which means that as we change the angle, we will get different data values for the height,
time, and velocity of an object

Acknowledgement

We would like to express our deep and sincere gratitude for our teacher, Mr. Ralfp Joseph
Valledor, for assigning as for this experiment and guiding us through the process. We also want
to acknowledge the team behind the development of PhEt stimulation for free use of the projectile
stimulation for our experiment.

References
Boundless. (n.d.). Boundless Physics. Retrieved December 15, 2020, from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-physics/chapter/projectile-motion/