LAB REPORT

PARABOLIC MOTION
CAMILLA PILATI

GENERAL PURPOSE:
Analyze the property of a Parabolic Motion

PART 1
PURPOSE:
Analyze the vertical projection of a parabolic motion, verify that is a free fall and so
prove that’s a U.M.A.

INSTRUMENT:
 Numerated Ramp
(since the simplest way, vertically projection speaking, to case a p.m. is
releasing the object, so to make the p. m. start when its already moving; we
need a ramp that have the last part horizontal. Numerated means that if we
release the ball in that point it will accelerate always the same way.)
 2 photocells
 Numerated carton
(it refers to the Numerated ramp, and it tells where to put the photocell, for
example if you release the ball in point A, the photocell must be set in the
correspondent A point on the carton)
 Ball (sphere)
 Box for stopping the ball, or a person that do that
 Chronometer (s.=0,0001s; r=∞ )
 Measuring tape (s.=0,1cm; r.=4m)
PROCEDURE:
For prove that the vertical projection is a U.M.A. we need to see if the time is
constant. After calculated the average time we will compare that time with the one
we expected.
We calculated the time expected by using the formula:
1
√
y= y 0+ v 0 , y t + a t 2 →t=
2
2d
g
=0 , 44584

d=0,975 m (it’s the height from the pavement to the start of the ramp, its highest
point)
m
a=g=9 ,81 2
s

For calculate the average time:

1. Put one photocells, pointing down, on the support slightly after the end of
the ramp on a table and the other on the numerated carton on the floor, in
bases of where you will realis the ball, in this case the ball will be realis at the
point A, so put the photocells on the A place;
2. Put the ball in point A and release it, paying attention not to push it, the ball
must start from rest;
3. Catch the ball before its bounces;
4. Sign the time measurement obtained;
5. Repeat 2 other times, then change the releasing point after 3 measurement;
6. Repeat all 3 times, changing the releasing point every 3 measurement.
 COLLECT DATA AND RESULT:

Relative Percentag
Error on
Average error on e error on
Height Time average
time average average
time
Situation time time

[m] [s] [s] [s] [s] [s]

(s=0.001m ) (s=0,0001) (s=0,0001) - - -

0.4342
1 0.4334
0.4342
0.4332
2 0.4322
0.4419
0.975 0.4395 0.0081 0.0184 1.84%
0.4399
3 0.4384
0.4484
0.4484
4 0.4447
0.4456

t=( 0,4395 ± 0,0081 ) s

CONCLUSION:
In order to prove that the vertical projection is a U.A.M. and therefore a free fall we
have to compare the average time we obtained through data processing
( 0,4395 ± 0,0081 ) s and the one we calculated by inverting the U.M.A. formula 0,44584 s.
Since the two values are consistent we can say, after analyzing the vertical
projection, that it is a U.M.A.

PART 2
PURPOSE:
Verify if the horizontal projection is an U.M. so verify if the time is constant and if
the position and the velocity are directly proportional.

INSTRUMENT:
  1 Photocells
 Numerated Ramp
 Plumb line
 Ball
 Measuring tape (s.=0,1cm; r.=4m)
 Chronometer (s.=0,0001s; r=∞ )
 Caliper (s.=0,05mm; r=200mm)

PROCEDURE:
For verify if the horizontal projection is an U.M we need to verify if the time is
constant and if the position and the velocity are directly proportional.
For find if the time is constant we use this formula x=x 0 + v 0 ,x t
x
By put the origin on the pavement we have that x=v 0 , x t → t= v
0, x

For find v 0 , x (since we don’t have a speedometer) and x we do like this:

1. Measure the diameter of the ball with the caliper;

2. Set the photocells so that it can measure the velocity of the ball, inserting the
diameter of the ball (the computer will automatically divided the diameter for
d
the shadowing time, in order to find the velocity → v= t );
3. Place the photocells at a length of the ball diameter before the end of the
ramp, so that the laser will be able to measure the shadowing period, when
the ball passes through, before the start of the parabolic motion;
4. Use the plumb line to find where the projection of the vertical component
encountered the ground, sign the point;
5. Put the ball on one of the signet point on the ramp and release it, collect the
velocity data;
6. Watch where the ball fell and sign the point;
7. Measure the distance between the point find with the prolongation of the
vertical projection and the ball felt one (it will represent our x in the
operation);
8. Release the ball other 2 times, from the same point;
9. Repeat all 3 times, changing the releasing point every 3 measurement;
 COLLECT DATA AND RESULT:
Error on Error on
Average Average Error on
Exit average Covered Ratio Average the
exit covered covered
velocity exit distance (time) ratio average
velocity distance distance
Situation velocity ratio
[m/s] [m]
(s=0,000 [m/s] [m/s] [m] [m] [s] [s] [s]
(s=0,001)
01)
0.69680 0.183
1 0.69465 0.69586 0.00107 0.202 0.195 0.010 0.27975
0.69614 0.199
1.06047 0.407
2 1.04133 1.06007 0.01854 0.409 0.407 0.002 0.38425
1.07840 0.406
0.37597 0.07292
1.36042 0.562
3 1.36297 1.36619 0.00738 0.573 0.566 0.006 0.41429
1.37518 0.563
1.68371 0.712
4 1.65230 1.66198 0.0169 0.709 0.707 0.006 0.42560
1.64992 0.701

Error on
Average
average
exit
exit
velocity
velocity

0.69586 0.195

1.06007 0.407

1.36619 0.566

1.66198 0.707

Using all data we have that:

t=( 0,37597 ± 0,07292 ) s
WITH DATA REJECTION:
Error on Error on
Average Average Error on
average Covered Ratio Average the
exit covered covered
exit distance (time) ratio average
velocity distance distance
velocity ratio
[m]
[m/s] [m] [m] [s] [s] [s]
(s=0,001)
0.407
1.06007 0.407 0.409 0.407 0.002 0.38425
0.406
0.562
1.36619 0.566 0.573 0.566 0.006 0.41429 0.408047 0.02067
0.563
0.712
1.66198 0.707 0.709 0.707 0.006 0.42560
0.701

With the data rejection (we can reject the first data since it’s the only one that’s not
consistent with the others due to an our error) we have that:
t=0 , 40 805 ± 0 , 02 067

CONCLUSION:
to show that the horizontal projection is a U.M. we must obtain that the time is
constant, this happens if the distance and the exit velocity are directly proportional
 x
(since t= v ). From the second graph, the more accurate one, we can see a straight
0, x

line passing through the origin, this shows that the two quantities are directly
proportional and consequently the time is constant. We have proved that the
horizontal projection is a U.M.

OVERALL CONCLUSION:
By analyzing the properties of a parabolic motion, we were able to prove that its
two components: the vertical projection and the horizontal projection, met the
requirements to form a parabolic motion. Thanks to these two components we can
confirm that the motion that occurred was a parabolic motion.