SL Physics – Mid-Course Lab Series

Coefficient of Friction Lab

EXPLORATION
Purpose / Research Question
The purpose of the experiment is to determine the launch velocity of a projectile from a
horizontally-oriented projectile launcher, by varying the height of the launcher above the ground,
and measuring the horizontal range of the projectile it launches.

Background Information
For this experiment, projectiles will be
launched from a projectile launcher that is
oriented parallel to the ground below it. The
height of the launcher above the ground will
be varied. This is shown in figure 1.

The projectile is a small metal ball, Fig. 1: Experimental setup

and the launcher is a spring-loaded unit with
adjustable angle, manufactured by Eisco.
This is shown in figure 2.

In this lab experiment, a major assumption

is made, in order to simplify the process, which is
Fig. 2: Projectile Launcher to be used.
that the Drag force experienced by the projectile
as it is moving through the air will be negligible.

A brief preliminary experiment will be necessary to determine a hypothesis for the

experiment. The launcher will be aimed directly upwards, and fired, such that the projectile goes
up to a maximum height, before falling down again. The maximum height it achieves can be
used to determine a theoretical value for the projectile launch velocity.
 The conceptual background supporting this investigation is the projectile motion topic
from the kinematics unit. The motion of a projectile can be resolved into two components: a
vertical one and a horizontal one. By combining the formulae representing these, a linearized
equation can be derived, linking the horizontal range of the projectile to the height of the
launcher above the ground. Note that the horizontal alignment of the launcher will result in the
vertical component of the initial velocity being zero.

The equation for the time it would take for an Equation (1) can be substituted into the
object dropped with zero initial vertical equation for horizontal uniform motion:
velocity is derived here:
1 𝑠
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 2 𝑎𝑡 2 𝑣=𝑡
1
ℎ = (0)𝑡 + 2 𝑔𝑡 2 𝑅 = 𝑣√ 𝑔
2ℎ

2ℎ 2𝑣
𝑡 = √𝑔 (1) 𝑅2 = ( 𝑔 ) ℎ (2)

Equation (2) is the linearized equation which will guide this investigation. From this, it is
evident that if the square of the range, R (in 𝑚), is plotted against the height of the launcher,
h (in 𝑚), then the resulting slope (m, in 𝑠 2 ) should be equivalent to the expression:
2𝑣
𝑚= 𝑔

and thus, the launch velocity can be determined as:

1
𝑣 = 2 𝑚𝑔 (3)

Hypothesis
As the height of the launcher (measured in metres) is increased, it is expected that the
horizontal range (measured in metres) will increased by the proportionality: 𝑅 2 ∝ ℎ. The slope
of the 𝑅 2 ∝ ℎ graph is expected to contain a term for the initial launch velocity (𝑣, in 𝑚 ∙ 𝑠 −1)
As mentioned in the Background section, the launch velocity of the ball launcher is actually
unknown initially, but can be determined by setting the device to launch at a constant velocity,
and performing a short preliminary experiment to determine a theoretical value.
Experimental Variables
The independent/manipulated variable in this experiment is the height of the projectile
launcher above the ground (measured in metres). The dependent variable is the horizontal range
of the small metal projectile ball (measured in metres).

An important controlled factor in this experiment is the need for a consistent launch
velocity. The projectile launcher device has a screw that can be loosened or tightened to
compress a spring varying amounts; given the assumption that the launch velocity will be
constant throughout the experiment, this screw should be kept at a certain setting throughout all
measurements. Failing to keep the launch velocity constant would be expected to introduce
uncontrolled and unpredictable variation in the measurements of range.

Another significant controlled factor in this experiment is the launch angle. If the metal
ball were launched from an angle slightly above or below the horizontal, it will affect the initial
vertical and horizontal velocities, and the time the ball spends in the air, thus affecting the range
of the ball, and introducing uncontrolled and unpredictable variation to the range measurements.
It is worth noting that for small angles, including those smaller than 1°, the impact on results is
expected to be very minimal, so as long as the “hanging mass protractor” attached to the
projectile launcher indicates about 0° ± 0.5°, no significant impact on measurements is expected.

Preliminary Measurements
The projectile launcher should be mounted to a plank of wood, such that it is aiming
directly upwards (with a protractor reading of 90° ± 0.5°). A metre stick is placed behind the
launcher, with a slow-motion video recorder aimed at the apparatus (on-level, if possible, to
avoid parallax effect issues with measurements. The launcher should be fired straight upwards,
and the video recording later reviewed to determine the maximum height [above its starting
point] that the projectile reaches. After repeating this a total of 5-10 times, and taking the
average of the measurements, the average maximum height of the projectile can be used to
determine a theoretical value for the launch velocity.
Procedure – Experimental Setup
The experimental apparatus can be seen in the diagram in fig. 1. It can be assembled by
placing the projectile launcher horizontally oriented on a plank of wood, and atop a table, and
ensuring the launch angle is about 0° ± 0.5°, using the “hanging mass protractor” attached to it.
A metre stick or measuring tape can be placed on the floor, starting from directly under the
launch position of the projectile ball and aiming away from the launcher, which will be used to
measure the range. Lastly, a video camera (and potentially, a tripod) with slow-motion recording
capability will be placed such that it is looking at the spot that ball is expected to land
(determined, perhaps, from a couple of “test runs”).

Procedure – Data Collection

With the experimental apparatus set up, launch a projectile, and measure the range that it
attains by reviewing a slow-motion recording of the ball’s landing spot. The height of the launch
can also be measured with a metre stick, by measuring the position of the ball relative to the
ground that it later lands on after launch. At least five measurements of range should be taken
for each height value.

The height should be varied by adding more planks of wood, or textbooks, underneath of
it (ensuring the correct launch angle each time). The data collection process should be repeated
for at least five different launch heights.

ANALYSIS

…Your turn