2023 / 2024

Practical work N°2: Study of the projectile

Remark
1. The graphic practical work is given at the end of the session.
2. . Bring back two (2) sheets of graph paper.

1. Introduction
The projectile is what human used and still use to strike from afar animals or any
others. It’s known in the far paste of our history. In this practical work, we want to
study its properties i.e., the nature of its motion.

To study the movement, we

threw a ball in front of a vertical mesh
panel. A strobe flash placed in front of
it emits brief flashes every 1/10th of a
second. A camera, whose lens remains
open throughout the fall, makes it
possible to record the positions of the
ball at equal time intervals. After
developing the photograph, the
information it contained was
transcribed onto a sheet of graph paper
(attached document).

Part 1 Vector study of the motion. By Figure 1 The Assembly diagram

filling the table 1.
a/ On the graph paper, construct the Table 1 Vector study of the motion
successive vectors displacement of the
ball. Taking into account the scale
indications provided, determine their t
Position
(s)
modules in real size. Deduce the
(cm) (cm/s) (cm/s) (cm/s2)
modules of the average velocity vectors
successive. 1
b/ Represent, on paper, these vectors
average velocity. To do this, give a 2
scale (1 cm of paper represents x cm/s).
What instantaneous velocity vector can
3
we equate to these average speed
vectors?
c/ Determine graphically the variations 4
of the successive velocities of the
mobile. Deduce the accelerations at the 5
different positions marked on graph
paper, give a scale 6

1
Part 2: Study of movement in Cartesian coordinates:
Choose two orthonormal axes Ox and Oy on your document, defined by the unit
vectors and take as the origin of the times the moment corresponding to the first
photographed position of the ball. Determine at each instant the algebraic measures x
and y of the components of the position vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝑀.
a/ Fill table 2.

Table 2:Table of measurement records

t x y
Position
(s) (cm) (cm) (cm/s)
(cm/s) (cm/s) (cm/s)
(s)

b/ Plot the graphs representing the speeds Vx(t) and Vy(t) as a function of time (You
will equate the average speeds with the instantaneous speeds at the center of the
corresponding time intervals)
c/ Give the components of the acceleration ax and ay
d/ By extrapolation determine the initial velocities Vx(0) and Vy(0) noted Vx0 and Vy0
respectively.
d/ Express the equations of motion: ax(t), Vx(t) , x(t), ay(t), Vy(t), and y(t).
e/ Compare the acceleration values obtained in part 1 and those obtained in part 2.