Title

Projectile Motion

Abstract

A projectile was fired from atop an elevation and an angle. The initial velocity for each

firing was likely to be the same. The distance traveled in the horizontal direction was measured

for multiple firings of each trial, and the values were averaged. When the initial velocity for

each of these averages was calculated it was proved that the initial velocity was relatively

constant. These measurements had many possible sources of error including air resistance and

firing position. This lab increased understanding of projectile motion.

Introduction

Projectile motion occurs when an object in a two dimensional plane experiences motion

only due to gravity. Kinematic equations can be used to describe the components of projectile

motion. This allows us to analyze the motion. In this lab measurements will be taken to

determine the initial velocity of objects experiencing projectile motion. This will first be done

for objects that are starting from a set elevation above the landing area. Then the initial velocity

will be found for objects that are launched from the floor at an angle to a landing area of the

same elevation. This will teach the concepts of projectile motion for objects that start from

horizontal and objects that start at angles. Familiarity with kinematic equations will be increased

through there repeated use in this lab. Also, this lab will create an understanding between the

measure of the initial angle, and the distance a projectile travels in the x direction. Because the

same instrument will be used to fire the projectile each time, and the projectile used will be

constant, the initial velocity will likely be the same for all situations tested.
 Methods

The pendulum of a ballistic pendulum was moved back so that it would not get in the

way of the firing mechanism. This became the instrument that would be used to fire the

projectile for this lab. This was initially place on a table where it would be fired from initially.

A long piece of bulletin board paper was spread across the floor. The projectile was test fired by

pulling the piston back one notch and then pushing down on the trigger. After the position of the

test fire was noted the paper was moved accordingly. A table was laid on its side to act as a

backstop for the projectile. The projectile was then fired five times to the paper, and a mark was

made where the projectile landed on the paper. The horizontal distance from the end of the firing

mechanism to the mark on the paper was measured. Also, the vertical distance from the end of

the firing mechanism to the floor was measured. The average of the horizontal distances was

found, and will be used for calculations.

After the distances from a horizontal start were measured the firing mechanism was

moved to the floor, and the paper was turned over. Text books were used to prop the end of the

firing mechanism up to an angle of twenty degrees. This angle was verified using a protractor.

The projectile was fired from this position three times. Each time the landing spot was marked

and the horizontal distance measured. The average of these measurements was recorded. This

was repeated for angles of thirty degrees, forty degrees, forty-five degrees, fifty degrees, sixty

degrees, and seventy degrees.

Results

The value of the initial velocity for each trial was found to be relatively constant. The

initial velocity was found by applying the kinematic equations to the measurement s taken in the

lab. In the first set of trials, where the projectile was fired from a horizontal position, the initial
elevation of the projectile was 84.9 cm or .849 m. The horizontal distance for the trials is shown

below.

Trial Horizontal Distance (cm) Horizontal Distance (m)

1 234.0 cm 0.2340 m
2 235.6 cm 0.2356 m
3 254.0 cm 0.2540 m
4 258.7 cm 0.2587 m
5 253.1 cm 0.2531 m
Average 247.1 cm 0.2471 m

Using the initial elevation as the distance traveled in the y direction the time was found

using the following equation:

2
=

Where dy is the distance in the y direction and g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.80 2 ). This

gave a time of 0.416 s. The average horizontal distance (0.2471 m) was divided by the time

(0.416 s) to give an initial velocity of 5.94 .

The average horizontal distance traveled was found for each set of three trials for a given

angle measure. This data is recorded in the following table:

Angle Average Horizontal Distance Average Horizontal Distance

(cm) (m)
20 259.1 cm 0.2591 m
30 296.3 cm 0.2963 m
40 338.5 cm 0.3385 m
45 337.0 cm 0.3370 m
50 332.2 cm 0.3322 m
60 286.3 cm 0.2863 m
70 215.2 cm 0.2152 m

These values show that the optimum angle is between 40 and 45; 45 is theoretically the

optimum angle, but error could alter this. On either side of 45 the average distance is relatively
equal for distances at an equal difference in angle measure from forty five. This is shown by the

values for 40 and 50, and 30 and 60.

Using these values the initial velocity for each angle was found using these values for

horizontal velocity and the following equation:

2 2
=

Where dx is horizontal velocity, Vi is initial velocity, is the angle measure, and g is acceleration

due to gravity. This equation was solved for initial velocity to be:

=
2

The initial velocity at each angle is shown in the following table:

Angle Initial Velocity

20 6.29

30 5.79

40 5.80

45 5.75

50 5.75

60 5.69

70 5.73

These values, along with the initial velocity of for the projectile starting at horizontal (5.94 )

show a fairly constant initial velocity. The percent difference between the two most extreme

values (6.29 and 5.69 ) is 10.0%.

Discussion

The values for the initial velocities of each trail are relatively constant throughout the
trials. This is because the percent difference between the highest and lowest values is only

10.0%. This is even including the initial velocity for 20, which is an outlier to the data set. The

reason for this consistency is that the same firing mechanism was used for each trial. With the

same firing mechanism the force applied to the projectile is essentially the same each time the

projectile is fired. Also, the projectile was the same for all trials, which meant that there was no

difference in mass. Considering this it is only logical that the initial velocity would be close to

the same for each trial.

When measuring the horizontal velocity of the object the force of gravity has no effect.

This is because motion in the horizontal and vertical direction is only related by time, and gravity

is acceleration in the vertical direction. Therefor gravity has no effect on velocity in the

horizontal direction.

There are a few possible sources of error in this lab. One major source is the effect of air

resistance on the projectile. This could slow the projectile as it moves through the air and cause

the measurements for horizontal distance to be less than they would be in an idea world. Also,

the base for the firing mechanism was warped. This caused the projectile to land slightly off

center from the firing position indication motion in the z direction. A final source of error in the

angled measurements is that the firing mechanism is above the level of the ground, and this in

not accounted for in the measurements.

Conclusion

This lab taught the concepts of projectile motion. It taught that horizontal motion and

vertical motion are independent of each other except for time. Using this common factor of time

allows for the calculation of many different values. The lab also taught how to use the kinematic

equations for two dimension motion, especially when the motion has a velocity at an angle.