CPO Horizontal Projectile Lab
Directions:
1. Set-up the stand and ramp from the energy-car kit so to give a hill with a level
(horizontal) section at the end. Screw top of the hill end into the fourth hole from the
bottom of the stand. Also screw the two ramp sections together (see diagram below).
2. Position a photo gate at the end of the track and use the telephone chord to plug into
the timer. Make sure the power supply to the timer is connected.
3. Set the timer on interval mode.
4. Position the end of the ramp at the end of the lab table.
5. Put a box or some soft material on the floor where you think the car will land.
6. Set the car on the hill at the second marker. Let the car go and mark where the car
lands.
7. Record the time shown on the timer.
8. With a meter stick measure the vertical height (Y) from the end of the ramp to where
the car landed. Record this height.
9. Measure the horizontal distance (X) from the end of the ramp to where the car landed.
Record this distance.
Data:
X = ______cm Y = ______cm t = ______s
Analysis:
1. Determine the speed of the car off the end of the table by using the photo gate time
and knowledge of the 1cm riser that passes through the photo gate during that time.
vx = Distance = ______= ______cm/s
Time
2. Determine the time that the car is in the air using the vertical height and the freefall
equation
Y = ½ g t2 g = 981 cm/s2
t = Ö (2Y / g)
t = Ö (2 x ______/ 981 ) = ______s
3. Determine the horizontal distance traveled by the car while it was in the air using your
answers to 1 and 2 above.
X = vx x t
X = ______cm/s x ______s = ______cm
4. Compare your calculated horizontal distance (x) from 3 above with your measured
value of X on the last page.
5. What do your think. If the car had traveled faster off the end of the ramp would it have
been in the air longer?