AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 1
Fall 2022-2023
Section: B1, Group: 07

LAB REPORT ON
Study of projectile motion and collision.

Supervised By
DR. KAMRUN NAHAR MUKTA

Submitted By
Name ID Contribution
1. Kazi Ershadul Islam 22-48333-3 Calculating
2. Shiam Talukder 22-48319-3 Finding resources
3. Istiak Ahmed Ovie 22-48317-3 Calculating
4. Anik Sarker Rudra 22-48296-3 Data recording
5. Nazmul Haque Noyon 22-49988-3 Writing

Date of Submission: October 17, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPICS Page no.
I. Title Page 1

II. Table of Content 2

1. Theory 3

2. Apparatus 4

3. Procedure 5

4. Experimental Data 6

5. Analysis 7

6. Result 8

7. Discussion 10

8. References

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 Theory:
Projectile Motion:
The motion of projectiles, known to mankind since the time of Arhimedes, is an example
of two-dimensional motion. This motion occurs in a vertical plane defined by the
direction of launch. In the simplest case (when air resistance is neglected and motion
occurs close to the surface of earth), the projected body experiences a uniform
acceleration along the vertical direction and a uniform velocity along the horizontal
direction.
The trajectory of a projectile is parabolic as the fig. 3.1 shows. A study on projectile
motion helps in a thorough understanding of the basic concepts in kinematics like
accelerated motion, uniform motion, equations of motion and so on.

Figure: 3.1: The parabolic trajectory of a projectile in the x-y plane. The projectile is
thrown with an initial velocity v 0 and angel θ with the x-axis. R and H represent the
range and maximum height of the projectile, respectively.

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 Collision:
The elastic collision between a ball and a fixed smooth surface can be presented as the
fig. 3.2 shows.

Figure 3.2: An elastic collision between a smooth ball and a table. The velocities just
before and after the collision remain the same.
For an elastic collision, both the momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. The
impulse in any dimension (x or y) can be define as
Impulse, J = change in momentum, ∆ p=p f – pi ,
where pi and pf are the initial and final momentum, respectively.

 Apparatus
 Marble
 Ramp
 Clamp
 Recording paper
 Carbon paper
 Meter scale
 Weighing scale

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 Procedure
 The apparatus as shown in fig 3.3 set up by us. It was made sure by us that the end of the
ramps looks level with the table. Lay down a piece of recording paper on the floor and
place a sheet of carbon paper on the top. Each bounce of ball had leaved a mark on the
recording paper.
 Once the apparatus is fixed, did not move the recording paper until the data collection is
complete. However, the carbon paper could be lifted at any time by us to inspect the
collision points. The position O located by us on the floor using the marble ball and
measured the distance from O to reference point on the recording paper. That allowed the
paper to be moved after data collection is completed to a more suitable location for the
measurements of S1and S2.

 To collect data, the ball released from a point near the top of the ramp by us. Being
careful not to impart spin on the ball. That allowed the ball to roll down the ramp and
bounce on the floor with minimum spin. We had repeated the procedure 10 times always
releasing ball from the same point on the ramp.

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 The heights h and H measured with a meter scale by us as accurately as possible.
 From the recording paper, the average values of S1and S2 had been obtained in the
following way. By eye, the circular region had determined that include most of the marks
on the paper. The circle around that region had been drawn by us. The center of the
circles taken for S1and S2. The radius of the circles as the uncertainties in S1and S2.
 The mass of the marble had been measured by us.

 Experimental Data
Table 3.1: Equation of motion for one dimensional and two dimensional (projectile) motion

Height Height Average Uncertainly Average Uncertainly Mass of

h H Distance in Distance in Marble
S1 S1 S2 S2 m
(cm) (cm)
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (gm)
69 13.5 33.3 2.8 77.2 3.5 5.8

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 Analysis
The horizontal velocity Vx of the ball before impact at A equals the horizontal velocity
immediately after the rebounds from A. This is a good assumption providing the working
table-floor is smooth. Using table 3.2 according to the figure 3.3 calculate the quantities
in table 3.3 and 3.4.

Table 3.2: Equations of motion for one dimensional and two dimensional (projectile motion)

Quantity Straight line (one Projectile (two dimensional) motion

dimensional) motion
Horizontal Vertical Component
Component

Initial Velocity u v ox=v 0 cos θ0 v oy =v 0 sin θ0

Acceleration a a x =0 a y =−g

Velocity at any v=u+at v x =v ox v y =v oy−¿

point 2 2
v =u +2 as 2 2
v y =v oy −2 gy

Distance S=vt (Constant x=v ox t 1 2

y=v oy t− g t
2
velocity)

1 2
S=ut+ a t
2

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  Result
Table 3.3: Some basic quantities related with projectile motion.

SN Quantities Corresponding Equation Values with unit

1 Time for the ball to leave the ramp

and hit the point A
t=
√ 2h
g
h = 69 cm
g = 980 cm/ s2

t=
√ 2 ×69
980
=0.375 s

2 Constant Horizontal velocity of S1 S1 = 33.3 cm

vx =
the ball t t = 0.375 s
33.3
vx = = 88.8 cm
0.375

3 Vertical velocity just before v y = -gt or v y = - √ 2 gh g = 980 cm/ s2h = 69 cm

strikes the point A v y = - √ 2× 980 ×69
= - 367.75 cm/s

4 Velocity of the ball just before it |v| = √ v 2x + v 2y v x = 88.8 cm

strikes the point A in vector form vy v y= - 367.75 cm/s
−1
θ= tan ( )
vx |v|=√ ( 88.8 )2 + (−367.75 )2
=378.32 cm/s
−1 −367.75
θ= tan ( ) =76.42 rad
88.8

5 Range of the second projectile = 2

v sin2 θ S1=¿ 33.3 cm
R= or
Distance between point A and B g S2= 77.2 cm
R = S2−S 1
R = 77.2−33.3 = 43.9 cm

6 Time of the ball spend between R R = 43.9 cm v x = 88.8 cm

t AB =
vx
point A and B 43.9
t AB = = 0.49 s
88.8

7 Maximum height for the projectile t

2
g = 980 cm/ s2 t AB = 0.49 s
H = g ( AB )
between point A and B 2 2

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 980 0.49 2
H= ( ) =29.41 cm
2 2

Table 3.4: Some basic quantities related with elastic collision between ball and the
fixed surface.

SN Quantities Corresponding Equation Values with unit

1 Magnitude of the velocity |v| = √ v 2x + v 2y v x = 88.8 cm

before/after impact at point A v y = - 367.75 cm/s

|v|=√(88.8)2 +(−367.75)2
=378.32 cm/s

2 The angle that the ball makes with −1 vy v x = 88.8 cm

θ= tan ( )
the surface just before/after the vx v y = - 367.75 cm/s
collision at point A −1 −367.75
θ= tan ( )=75.42 rad
88.8

3 Kinetic energy of the ball before 1 m=5.8 g

K. Ei = m¿ v ∨¿2 ¿
2 v= 378.32 cm/s
the collision at A
415.07×103 erg

4 Kinetic energy of the ball after the 1 m=5.8 g

K. E f = m¿ v ∨¿2 ¿
2 v= 378.32 cm/s
collision at A
415.07×103 erg

5 Horizontal impulse that the floor J x = Pix - Pfx 0

gives to the ball

6 Vertical impulse that the floor J y = Piy - Pfy 4146.63 dyne-sec

gives to the ball

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 Discussion
1. We should be careful in taking the heights, starting point.
2. We have to take the calculate value properly.
3. We should be careful about the release point.

 References
 Fundamentals of Physics: Projectile motion (Chapter 4, page 70-75), Collision and Impulse
(Chapter 9, page 266)
 Physics -1 lab manual.
 YouTube Video Link –
 (Projectile Motion): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPJXDrWXays
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcOh7792DIo
 (Collision): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YRgHikdcqs

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