Name Sec: Last 2 Digits of St#

Partners: Date:

Physics 100 Lab 3:

Projectile Motion and Conservation of Energy
Caution:
• Wear safety glasses.
• Don’t stick your finger into the launcher. Use the pushrod to load the ball.
• Make sure the launch area is clear of people before shooting the ball.

Section 1: Projectile Motion

What you will do:

You can predict the trajectory of a ball fired from a projectile launcher. You will
determine the heights of a target (hoop) that will be placed across the ball’s path at four
evenly spaced positions along the trajectory such that when you launch the ball each
time, it will go through the target (hopefully).

How to do it:
Ø Before launching the ball, wear safety glasses and make sure nobody is in the
way.
The launcher is attached to the whiteboard (see Fig. 1) for horizontal launches. The
angle of inclination, 𝜃, is adjusted by carefully rotating the black launcher mount. DO
NOT detach the launcher from the whiteboard. The plumb bob and protractor at the side
of the launcher indicate the angle 𝜃. Adjust the launcher angle to zero degrees to launch
the ball horizontally. Place the steel ball in the barrel and push it back with the pushrod
until the trigger catches the piston. DO NOT use your finger. The launcher is now set at
short range. Don’t use the second or third (medium and long range) settings. Now
launch the ball by pulling up on the string.
90

DON'T PUSH
PISTON
80

WITH
FINGER!
70
60

CAUTION!
50

40
40
WEAR 30 30
20
SAFETY 10
0 10
20
GLASSES
WHENINUSE. ME-6825 MINI
LAUNCHER

x
Figure 1: Horizontal launch position

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First: Tape a piece of paper on the whiteboard ledge where the ball hit the ledge. Place
a piece of carbon paper, all-black side down, on top of the paper. Mark the point on the
ledge that is directly below the release point on the barrel (this is marked by a cross at
the side of the launcher). Measure y, the vertical distance that the ball drops (see Fig.
1):

y = .......................metres
Using this value of y and given that g = 9.81m/s2, calculate the time of flight t (once
launched, the time it will take the ball to hit the floor):

....................................................................... (symbolic formula)

t = ..................................... = .................................seconds
Launch the ball three times from the same position and measure the horizontal
displacement of the ball x, on the floor (see figure 2):

x1 = ................... x2 = ................... x3 = ..................

The average value of x is xav = .....................metres.
Using the values of xav and t from above, calculate the initial velocity of the ball.

vo = .............................. = ................................metres/second

Next: Divide the horizontal distance into five equal intervals (see Fig. 2). Fill in the
horizontal positions in the table.
position
1 2 3 4
90

DON'T PUSH
PISTON
80

WITH
FINGER!
70
60

CAUTION!
50

40
40
WEAR 30 30
20
SAFETY 10
0 10
20
GLASSES
WHENINUSE. ME-6825 MINI
LAUNCHER

impact
point

Figure 2: Equal horizontal intervals. Figure out how far the ball drops in each interval
and put hoops there.

The ball travels across each horizontal interval in equal time. The ball drops under
constant acceleration during each interval. From the total distance it drops, figure out
how far it will drop during each interval. Fill in the vertical drops in the table.

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 horizontal distance vertical drop
launcher 0m 0m
position 1 ________ ________
position 2 ________ ________
position 3 ________ ________
position 4 ________ ________
impact (data from above) ________ ________

You will use magnetic hoops as targets. Place a hoop in the ball’s path at the first
position you calculated in the table. Fire the launcher. If the ball misses, make any
adjustments and recalculations as necessary.

After the first hoop is in place, continue with the second hoop and so on.

Demonstrate successful launches to an instructor or TA.

Section 2: Conservation of Energy

Objectives:
Ø To show that kinetic energy of a ball shot vertically is transformed into potential
energy.

Introduction:
The total mechanical energy of a ball is equal to the sum of its kinetic energy (KE) and
its potential energy (PE). When the ball is launched vertically (see Fig. 3), the initial PE
(at h = 0) is defined to be zero and KE = 𝑣!! /2, where m is the mass of the ball and 𝑣! is
the initial velocity of the ball. When the ball is at maximum height (hmax), its velocity is
zero; therefore KE = 0 and PE = mghmax. If energy is conserved, the initial kinetic energy
is equal to the final potential energy (KEi = PEf). You can calculate the initial kinetic
energy using 𝑣! from the previous section and the mass of the ball.

What to do:
Assuming that energy is conserved, use 𝑣! and g to calculate the maximum height of
the ball (hmax) when it is launched vertically:
(Note: 𝑣! is the same for a horizontal or vertical launch.)
...........................................................................................

predicted hmax = ........................................... = ...................................metres

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Vertical launch final position
Ask your TA if you can borrow one of the launchers
inclined to 90° (see Fig. 3). Launch the ball three
times, and each time measure the maximum height
reached by the ball. One way to do this is to hold a
metre stick behind the launcher and mark the h
maximum height on the stick with tape.

h1 = ...................
h2 = ................... initial position
h3 = ....................

average value of maximum height:

hmax = ...............................metres Figure 3: Vertical launch position
mass of the steel ball: m = 0.0164 kg

Using m and the initial velocity 𝑣! , calculate the initial kinetic energy of the ball:
KEi = ................................................... = .....................Joules [1 Joule = 1 kg·m2/s2]
Using g and the average value of maximum height, calculate the final potential energy
of the ball:
PEf = .................................................... = .....................Joules

How does friction affect the result for the initial kinetic energy?................................

How does friction affect the result for the final kinetic energy?..................................

How does friction affect the result for the initial potential energy?.............................

How does friction affect the result for the final potential energy?..............................

✎ Original diagrams supplied by PASCO Scientific.

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