Projectile Motion

Tolentino, Paul Diony S.

PHY10L/B4
CE-2

1. INTRODUCTION
In this experiment, the topic was about projectile motion which means motion of an object
thrown. The only force that affects the object is gravity assuming that there is no other force such as air
resistance.
2. METHODOLOGY
The main equipments given to us were projectile launcher, metal ball and a target board. Before
launching the projectile, we had to make sure that it touches the end of the launcher because it may reduce
the power given by the launcher. We also had to place two or more carbon papers because the launcher
sometimes does not launch the ball straight.
3. DATA AND RESULTS
The average initial velocity computed from the first part was 4.887m/s. The average initial
velocity was used to compute the range for both angles. With the 30deg, the maximum percent difference
was 1.883% while in the 60deg, it is 3.189%. In the last part, the maximum height for the 30deg was
0.317m while in the 60deg, it was 0.952m. In the 30deg, the experimental value that has the highest
percent difference is 0.310m with 2.232% while in the 60deg, it was 0.966m with 1.460%.
4. ANALYSIS
In this experiment, we were able to compare the ranges from the experiment and the computed
value. At first, we had a difficulty in getting our data as the ball was not loaded at the same time with the
launcher and it cost us inconsistencies. In the first part, the measured height of the launcher is 1.09m
while the time of travel was computed by taking the square root of twice the height over the gravity. The
initial velocity was the total distance traveled over the total time traveled. In the second part, using the
velocity in the first, the range was computed by multiplying the square of velocity with sine of twice the
angle of inclination and dividing it by the gravity. Lastly, using again the velocity of 4.987, the maximum
height was computed by taking the square of the product of initial velocity and the sine of the angle of
inclination and dividing it by twice the gravity. After this experiment, we were able to analyze motion of
a projectile and compare the ranges and distances in different angles of launching. The motion of the
projectile is only affected by the gravity assuming that air resistance is neglected.