RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1. Initial Velocity of the Projectile

Range of Projectile, R (cm) Height, y
0
(cm)
Initial Velocity, v
0

(cm/s) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Average
132.2 138.8 130.6 130.3 134.0
133.2
0.7
85.2 319.4

The values of the range (x
0
) and height (y
0
) are shown in Table 1 and are used for the calculation
of the initial velocity (V
0
). The horizontal distance or range is measured five times so the average was
computed. The numerous trials are used in order to provide a more precise value for the range. The
uncertainty is included in the average value and computed using the following formula:

The initial velocity (v
0
) value is 319.4 cm/s. This is the rate of change in position of the metal ball
in the projectile. The formula used in the computation of initial velocity is:

Table 2. Range of Projectile at Different Angles of Release
Angle, ()
Range of Projectile, R (cm)
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Average
20 81.0 76.4 77.4 78.8 77.5 78.50.4
30 96.4 97.2 96.0 95.6 95.9 96.20.1
45 101.7 102.0 102.1 103.8 103.9 102.70.2
60 86.5 86.2 85.8 84.5 86.5 85.90.2
70 55.2 55.4 57.1 57.4 56.5 56.30.2

The projectile follows a parabolic path.
[1]
Table 2 shows how the differences in the angle affect
the distance taken by the released metal ball. The maximum range is observed at the 45 angle when
the sine is equal to 1.
[2]
Based on the results, the value of the range gradually increases as the angle
increases. The relationship of these two factors: angle and range is directly proportional. When the
angle is greater than 45, its range value coincides with the range value of its complementary angle.

Table 3. Trajectory of the Projectile at a 30 Angle of Inclination
Trial Range (cm) Y
0
(cm) Y
expt
(cm)
1 70.8
14.2
19.4
2 59.6 23.5
(Eq 1)
(Eq 2)
3 42.3 26.2
4 67.5 21.0
5 94.8 5.3

Table 3 shows the variations in the trajectory or path of the projectile motion at a constant
angle. The initial height is the position of the mouth of the mini-launcher with reference to the table.
When the range is changed, the height is affected. The height of the projectile is higher in value when
the distance between the mouth of the mini-launcher and the wall is shorter. On the other hand, the
height of the projectile is lower in value when the distance between the mouth of the mini-launcher and
the wall is longer.

[1] Giancoli, D. (2007) Physics. 6
th
edition. pp 54-62. Pearson Education Inc.
[2] Unknown Author. (2014) Projectile Motion. Retrieved October 1, 2014 from
http://www.splung.com/content/sid/2/page/projectiles