Introduction to Projectile Motion

Objective: To investigate the factors that influence the motion of a projectile.

Prediction

What do you think? Think about a ball flying through the air, a cannon ball fired from a cannon, or any form of projectile motion. There are many possible things that affect the trajectory (motion) of the projectile. List and explain what factors you think will affect the motion of a projectile.

Procedure:

Part I: Horizontal launch velocity vs. time in the air

  1. Set the angle to zero and choose baseball. Do not change these setting for any trials in this part.
  2. Set the launch velcotiy to 5 m/s and “FIRE”. Record the time to the ground and the range.
  3. Repeat in 10 m/s increments up to 55 m/s, recording the time and range after each trial.

Object / Angle (°) / Initial Speed (m/s) / Range (m) / Time (s)
Baseball / 0 / 5
15
25
35
45
55

Part II: Type of object

  1. Set v = 18 m/s, and the angle to 20°. Do not change these settings for any trials in this part.
  2. Chooose “Tankshell” and “FIRE”. Record the time to the ground and then move the target to its landing spot.
  3. Repeat with other available objects.

Object / Angle (°) / Initial Speed (m/s) / Range (m) / Time (s)
Tankshell / 20 / 18
Golfball
Baseball
Bowlingball
Football
Pumpkin
Human
Piano
Buick

Part III: Height vs. Time in the Air

  1. Choose Tankshell and set the initial velocity to 18 m/s. Do not change these settings for any trials in this part.
  2. Raise the platform under the cannon to any height.
  3. Set the angle to zero and “FIRE”. Record the time to the ground and the range.
  4. Move the launcher to several higher and lower positions and repeat the experiment.

Object / Angle (°) / Initial Speed (m/s) / Range
(m) / Initial Height (m) / Time
(s)
Tankshell / 0 / 18

Discussion Questions

  1. What happened to the time in the air as the horizontal launch velocity was increased?
  1. What happened to the rangeas the horizontal launch velocity was increased?
  1. Ignoring air resistance, what effect does the type of object have on the time in the air?
  1. Ignoring air resistance, what effect does the type of object have on the range?
  1. What happened to the time in the air as the initial height was increased?
  1. What happened to the range as the initial height was increased?

Conclusions

What factors seem to influence the time of flight of a projectile?

What factors seem to influence the range of a projectile?

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