Projectile Motion Lab
Starter: A marble is fired from the table to the floor. If an overhead
light is on, what can you say about the velocity of the shadow?
Does it speed up or slow down during the flight?
Starter # 2
If h = 500 meters, how long is the cannon ball in the air?
t=
ℎ
5
=
500
=
5
10 seconds
The Horizontal Shot to find vi
Part A.
Horizontal Shot ( q = 0 )
Using (1) Dy = viyt -5t2
and also vix = vi
becomes:
Given R, h, and q=0 , find vi and t.
and (2) Dxf = vixt
and viy = 0, then (1)
(3)
0 = h - 5t2
(4)
R = vit which yields:
(5)
t=
ℎ
5
and (2) becomes:
and
(6)
vi = R
5
ℎ
Procedure
Determine the Initial Velocity of the Launcher.
1. Set the launcher to fire horizontally. Measure the height from the floor
to the marble before its launched and enter this in the workbook.
3. Make a horizontal shot 5 times and get the average range, Rave.
Calculate the initial velocity using:
vi = Rave
5
ℎ
Questions
All questions must be written in your report and answered
in complete sentences. Take time and care to explain your
answers carefully.
1. What effect would air resistance have on your velocity?
2. If the angle was not zero would that change you results?
Lab Report Checklist.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Starter
Data
Calculations
Summary