National University Of Sciences and Technology

School Of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME)

Lab Report
Mini Launcher

PHY - 102 Applied Physics Lab

Submitted To:
Samra Yasmin
Submitted By:
Khawaja Muhammad Abdullah
Umair Jamal
Osaid Ahmad
Muhammad Aqil
Muhammad Fahad Zahid
Group: 1-B
BE-ME-07-C
Dated: 27/10/15
 EXPERIMENT 1:PROJECTILE MOTION
Abstract:
In this experiment we will first calculate the initial velocity of the ball by launching it
at zero degree with the horizontal and then predict its range by launching it at positive
and negative angles. Then we will compare the predicted and the experimental ranges.

Equipment Needed:
Mini Launcher and steel ball
Plumb bob
Meter stick
Carbon paper
White paper

Theory:
Initial horizontal velocity:
The vertical distance the ball drops in time t is given by:
1
y = y0 + (v0 sin) t - 2
2

where y is the position of ball when it hits the floor and y0 is the initial height and t is
time of flight. Since the angle is zero, the time of flight of the ball can be found using:

2
=

and then the initial velocity can be found using:

v0 =

where x is the calculated range

Initial velocity at an angle:

To predict the horizontal range when launched at an angle, first calculate the time of
flight using:
1
y = y0 + (v0 sin)t - 2
2
 To calculate range use:

x = (v0 cos) t

Part A: Determining Initial Velocity of Ball

Procedure:
Adjust the angle of launcher to zero degrees.
Launch the ball and locate the point of impact.
Tape a piece of white paper and a carbon paper at this point. When the ball hits the
floor it will leave a mark on the paper
Take ten shots..
Calculate the vertical distance from floor to the barrel.
Calculate the horizontal distance from launcher to the leading edge.
Take average of distances from leading edge to the spots.
Calculate the total distance from launcher to the spots.
Now calculate the time of flight and initial velocity.

Data Analysis:
Vertical Distance: 34.5cm

Horizontal Distance to Paper Edge: 94cm

Calculated Time of Flight: 0.26sec

Initial Velocity: 380.96cms-1

Trial Number Distance(cm)

1 4.2
2 4.6
3 5.2
4 5.2
5 5.5
6 5.6
Average Distance 5.05
Total Average Distance 99.05
 Part B: Predicting Range at Positive Angle
Procedure:
Adjust the launcher between 20 to 60 degrees.
Using the initial velocity and vertical distance found in the first part of this experiment,
calculate the new time of flight and the new horizontal range for a projectile launched
at the new angle.
Tape a white paper and a carbon paper on the floor.
Launch the ball ten times and determine the average experimental range.

Data Analysis:
Angle Above Horizontal: +10

Horizontal Distance to Paper Edge: 115cm

Calculated time of Flight: 0.31sec

Predicted Range: 116.30cm

Trial Number Distance from Edge of Paper(cm)

1 0.6
2 0.7
3 0.9
4 1.1
5 0.5
6 0.7
Average Distance 0.75
Total Average Distance 115.75

Part C: Predicting Range at Negative Angle

Procedure:
Adjust the launcher between 10 and 40 degrees below horizontal.
Using the initial velocity and vertical distance found in the first part of this experiment,
calculate the new time of flight and the new horizontal range for a projectile launched
at the new angle.
 Tape a white paper and a carbon paper on the floor.
Launch the ball ten times and determine the average experimental range.

Data Analysis:
Angle Below Horizontal: -10

Horizontal Distance to Paper Edge: 74cm

Calculated Time of Flight: 0.21sec

Predicted Range: 78.79cm

Trial Number Distance from Edge of Paper(cm)

1 5.4
2 5.2
3 5.1
4 5.4
5 5.8
6 6.1
Average Distance 5.52
Total Average Distance 79.52

Conclusion:
The summary of the experiments is as follows:

Initial velocity = 380.96cms-1

Predicted range at positive angle = 116.30cm

Experimental range at positive angle = 115.75cm

Percentage difference = 0.48%

Predicted range at negative angle = 78.79cm

Experimental range at negative angle = 79.52cm

Percentage difference = 0.93%

NOTE: The errors are mainly due to air friction.

 EXPERIMENT 2: PROJECTILE MOTION USING
PHOTO-GATES
Abstract:
In this experiment we have to first calculate the initial velocity of the ball using photo-
gates and then compare the predicted range of the ball shot at an angle with
experimental range. We will calculate the percentage error and then estimate the
precision of the predicted range.

Equipment Needed:
Mini Launcher and steel ball
Photo-gate bracket
2 Photo-gates Computer and Timing
software
Plumb bob
Meter stick
Carbon paper
White paper

Theory:
First the initial velocity of the ball is calculated using photo-gates. To predict the
horizontal range when launched at an angle, first calculate the time of flight using:
1
y = y0 + (v0 sin) t - 2
2

Where y is the position of ball when it hits the floor and y0 is the initial height and t is
time of flight

To calculate range use:

x = (v0 cos) t
 Part A: Determining the initial velocity of the ball
Procedure:
Put the steel ball into the Mini Launcher and cock it to the long range position.
Run the timing program and set it to measure the time it takes the ball to pass through
both photo-gates.
Shoot the ball three times and take the average of these times.
Calculate the initial speed of the ball. The distance between the photo-gates is 10 cm.

Data Analysis:
Angle Above Horizontal: +10

Distance Covered by Projectile: 10cm

Trial Number Time(sec)

1 0.0307
2 0.0307
3 0.0308
Average Time 0.03073
Initial Speed 325.773cms-1

Part B: Predict the Range of the Ball Shot at an Angle

Procedure:
We adjusted the Mini Launcher to launch at an angle between 20 and 60 degrees above
the horizontal and recorded the angle in the table.
By using the initial velocity and vertical distance found in the first part of this
experiment, we calculated the new time of flight and the new horizontal range for a
projectile launched at the new angle and recorded it in the table.
We drew a line across the middle of a white piece of paper and taped the paper on the
floor so the line is at the predicted horizontal distance from the mini launcher and we
covered the paper with carbon paper.
We shot the ball ten times.
We measure the ten distances and took the average and recorded it in the table.
Data Analysis:
Angle Above Horizontal: +10

Horizontal Distance to Paper Edge: 99.5cm

Calculated Time of Flight: 0.32sec

Predicted Range: 105.8cm

Trial Number Distance From Edge of Paper

1 3.7
2 3.7
3 3.8
4 4.0
5 3.7
6 4.0
7 3.9
8 4.1
9 4.3
10 3.9
Average 3.91
Total Average Distance 103.41

Precision of the predicted range = 2.5

So the predicted range varies from 103.3cm to 108.3cm

So 7 out of 10 final shots fall within the range.

Conclusion:
The summary of above experiments is follow:

Initial velocity = 325.772cms-1

Predicted Range = 105.86

Experimental Range =103.41

Percentage difference = 2.37%

The main source of this difference is due to air friction.

 EXPERIMENT 3: PROJECTILE RANGE VERSUS
ANGLE
Abstract:
In this experiment we will launch the ball on level surface and off the table at different
angles and note the range in each case. Then we will plot a graph for both the cases i.e.
launching the ball on level surface and off the floor.

Equipment Needed:
Mini Launcher and steel ball
Plumb bob
Measuring tape or meter stick
Carbon paper
Graph paper
White paper

Theory:
Time of flight when launched on level surface is given by:
(vo sin)t
t=2

For the case in which the ball is launched at an angle from a table onto the floor, the
time of flight is found using the equation for the vertical motion:
1
y = y0 + (v0 sin)t - 2
2

Procedure:
Shooting on level surface:
Fire one shot to locate where
the ball hits the table. At this
position, tape a piece of white
paper to the table. Place a
piece of carbon paper
(carbon-side down) on top of
this paper and tape it down.
Fire about five shots.
Measure the horizontal distance from the launch position of the ball to the leading
edge of the paper.
Measure from the leading edge of the paper to each of the five dots and record these
distances
Increase the angle by 10 degrees and repeat all the steps.
Repeat for angles from 0 up to 80 degrees.

Data Analysis:
Angle 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
1 9.8 10.4 10.9 10.3 9.5 10.2 10.3 10.1
2 9.6 10.2 11.5 9.8 9.2 10.1 10.2 9.8
3 10.1 10.5 11.2 9.9 9.3 10.1 10.4 10.5
4 10.0 10.1 11.2 10.3 9.3 9.6 10.6 10.0
5 10.2 10.2 11.1 10.0 9.7 9.9 10.2 9.9
Average 9.94 10.28 11.18 10.08 9.4 9.9 10.34 10.06
Paper Distance 20.0 50.1 70.0 80.0 80.0 70.0 50.1 20.0
Total Distance 29.94 60.38 81.18 90.08 89.4 79.9 60.44 30.06
 Angle/Range Graph
100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Shooting off the table:

Clamp the Mini Launcher on the table so that the ball will hit the floor. Repeat steps 1
through 6 and record the data.

Data Analysis:
Angle 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
1 17.1 15.3 16.7 18.3 16.9 16.5 6.5 9.2
2 17.3 14.7 17.5 18.2 17.3 16.9 6.6 9.4
3 17.4 14.5 16.7 17.6 16.5 17.3 6.8 9.1
4 17.5 14.5 16.8 17.7 16.2 17.1 7.2 8.7
5 17.4 14.7 16.9 17.7 17.2 16.8 7.0 8.7
Average 17.34 14.54 16.92 17.9 16.82 16.92 6.82 9.02
Paper distance 95.5 115.5 125.5 125.5 115.2 95.5 95.5 80.7
Total Distance 112.84 130.04 142.42 143.4 132.02 112.42 102.32 89.72
Angle/Range Graph
160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Conclusion and Discussions:

Maximum range of the projectile on a level surface was observed at an angle of 45
degrees.
In case of shooting off the table, the angle for maximum range decreases while shooting
the projectile from a higher altitude and increases while shooting it from a lower altitude
as reflected in the graph.
From the experiment, we can conclude that the maximum range of a projectile always
increases if it is projected from a higher altitude instead of from ground level.