Catapult Worksheet

Projectile Motion
1. Consider throwing a ball into the air (with some angle, not straight up), what would the path of the
ball be !ketch "our idea on the following graph, label where the ball hits its ma#imum height and
ma#imum distance from the starting location$
%or the following &uestions we will need to use a few formulas about projectile motion. 'n object is
considered a projectile beha(ing under projectile motion rules when it starts with an initial speed and
initial angle and has onl" the force of gra(it" and air resistance working upon it to bring it back to the
ground.
)efinition of (ariables$

0
v = initial speed of object at time of launch
2 2 9.8 32
ft
m
s s
g = =
* gra(it"
= catapult launch angle
t = time elapsed from launch
h = height of ball at time t
d = hori+ontal distance of ball at time t
T = total time of flight (from launch to landing)
H = ma#imum height achie(ed b" ball
D = total hori+ontal distance achie(ed b" ball (at landing)
Projectile Motion %ormulas$
,o find launch angle $
1
tan 4
tan
4
H H
D D

= =


,o find initial speed
0
v of object$
0
sin 2
gD
v

=

-. Place and securel" hold the catapult on a le(el surface and launch the ball, note where it lands.
,ake the height measuring stick and place it at the halfwa" point between the launch and landing.
(.ou will need to measure the ma#imum height achie(ed for the ne#t se(eral launches.)
/. 0olding the catapult stead" (do not make an" changes to the settings), launch the ball se(eral
times and record the ma#imum height, ma#imum distance and time of flight. 1nce "ou ha(e
collected data from / launches, a(erage the data at the bottom of each column.
Launch Maximum Height Maximum Distance Time of Flight
1
2
3
4
5
6
Average

H = D = T =
2. 3se the formula gi(en abo(e and "our scientific calculator to determine the launch angle . !how
all "our work mathematicall" in the space pro(ided and then put "our answer in the bo# pro(ided.
=
4. 3se the launch angle , the formula abo(e and "our scientific calculator to find the initial speed of
"our ball as it lea(es the catapult,
0
v . Show all your work mathematically in the space provided and
then put your answer in the box provided.
0
v =
5nowing the launch angle and the initial speed of a projectile object, we can make a graph of the path
of the projectile through the air using the following formulas to determine the x and y coordinates at
different times along the path$
x =
horizontal coordinate of the ordered pair on the graph
y =
vertical coordinate of the ordered pair on the graph
( )
0
cos x v t = and ( )
2
0
sin
2
g
y t v t = +
6. )i(ide "our total time from the last column of collected data abo(e b" 17. ,his will be "our
increment of time. %ill in the table below in increments starting at 7 and increasing b" the
increment determined.
la!se"
Time
t
x # $oor"inate
x
%&coor"inate
%
'x( %)
* 7 7
( ) 0 0
8. Plot "our ordered pairs ( ) x y on the graph below9 adjust the scale on "our a#es as necessar".
:. Connect the points "ou graphed.
Was "our earlier graphical prediction
about projectile motion correct
What t"pe of a cur(e is this
;. <n order to find the launch angle of the catapult arm that will ma#imi+e the distance co(ered b" the
ball, "ou will need to manipulate the formula
0
sin 2
gD
v

= and sol(e for D. !how "our work

)istance
D
!
o
1!
o
2!
o
3!
o
4!
o
!!
o
"!
o
#!
o
8!
o
11. ?ased off "our calculations in the table abo(e, what would be the best launch angle for the
catapult arm if "ou want to get the ball to tra(el the ma#imum possible distance from the catapult
1-. <f "ou set the catapult arm at this angle , how far will the ball land from the catapult
1/. @ow "ou need to adjust the catapult base so the launch angle will gi(e "ou a ma#imum distance.
.ou will need to change the launch angle from the initial launch angle found in =6 to the angle
"ou determined would net the ma#imum distance for the ball, found in =1/. )etermine the
adjustment factor between "our two angles and place "our answer in the bo#. %or e#ample, if "ou
found the initial launch angle in =6 was
3"
o
and the angle that would net the ma#imum distance in
=1/ to be
!2
o
then "our catapult will need to be adjusted b"
!2 3" 1" =
o o o
.
'djustment %actor =
o
12. <n order to launch the ball at the angle that will achie(e the ma#imum distance, "ou will need to
create an angle with the floor and the catapult base b" placing wooden blocks under the front of
the catapult. Carefull" measure the angle between the catapult and the floor until "ou ha(e raised
the base up to the adjustment factor found in the last step. 0old the catapult securel" at the
correct angle. %ire the catapult and record the distance. ,his should be longer than for an
unadjusted launch. Aecord this distance.
)istance *
14. !uppose "ou want to launch the ball from the catapult to hit a target that lies at a point set at -B/
of the ma#imum distance found abo(e. 3se the formula gi(en below and "our scientific calculator
to determine to determine the angle re&uired to achie(e this distance. !how all "our work
mathematicall" in the space pro(ided and then put "our answer in the bo# pro(ided.
1
2
0
1
sin
2
gD
v

=


=
16. !et the catapult to launch at the angle determined for this distance. ,he catapult base will again
ha(e to be adjusted to achie(e this re&uirement. Place wooden blocks appropriatel" until "ou ha(e
adjusted the launch angle to the proper degree measurement and hold securel" at the correct
angle. %ire the catapult and record the distance. ,he distance should be close to desired.