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3C Phet Projectiles Lab WKSHT Draft

The document describes a series of experiments using an online projectile motion simulator to investigate how changing variables like initial speed, angle, mass, and air resistance affect the motion of different projectiles. The experiments examine how the required launch angle changes with speed, how it changes with mass while holding speed constant, how initial speed must change to hit a target at a constant angle for objects of different mass, and how air resistance influences whether objects of varying mass can hit a target. Conclusions are made about trends in how launch angle and speed must be adjusted based on changes to variables like mass and presence of air resistance.

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259 views2 pages

3C Phet Projectiles Lab WKSHT Draft

The document describes a series of experiments using an online projectile motion simulator to investigate how changing variables like initial speed, angle, mass, and air resistance affect the motion of different projectiles. The experiments examine how the required launch angle changes with speed, how it changes with mass while holding speed constant, how initial speed must change to hit a target at a constant angle for objects of different mass, and how air resistance influences whether objects of varying mass can hit a target. Conclusions are made about trends in how launch angle and speed must be adjusted based on changes to variables like mass and presence of air resistance.

Uploaded by

maemma olivar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Projection Motion Simulator Worksheet

Name__________________ Date:___________
Directions: Use pencil only. Written answers must be in complete sentences. Round you answers
to two decimal places.

Go to the projectile motion simulator at http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/projectile-motion/projectile-


motion.swf

1. Starting with the pumpkin as your projectile, gather data and answer the following questions:

a. With an initial speed of 18m/s and no air resistance, what angle must the cannon be at to
hit the bull’s eye?

b. Clear your results from part A, by clicking “Erase”. Now add air resistance and answer the
same question.

c. Clear your results from part B and remove the air resistance. Collect data to figure out how
the angle must be changed to hit the bull’s eye as the initial speed increases.

Initial speed Angle


14m/s
18m/s 75
22m/s
26m/s

Conclusion: As the speed increases, the angle _______________.

2. Now, using different projectiles, collect data to figure out how the angle must be changed as
the mass of the projectile changes. Use 18m/s as your speed with NO air resistance.

Projectile Mass Angle


Football
Bowling ball
Adult human
Piano
Buick

Conclusion: As the mass of the object increases, the angle


__________________________ as long as the speed is constant.
3. Now, repeat the experiment in #2, only keep the angle constant at 65 degrees and
determine what happens to the initial speed needed to hit the bull’s eye as the mass of the
projectile changes.

Projectile Mass Initial speed


Football
Bowling ball
Adult human
Piano
Buick

Conclusion: As the mass of the object increases, the initial speed


__________________________ as long as the angle is constant.

4. Repeat the experiment in #3, except set the speed based on your results in #3, add air
resistance and record the drag coefficient and whether the object hits the bull’s eye or not.

Projectile Initial speed Drag coefficient Hit bull’s eye?


(from #3)
Football
Bowling ball
Adult human
Piano
Buick

Conclusion: How does the air resistance relate to whether the object could still
hit the bull’s eye or not?

5. Finally, choose an object and analyze its motion without air resistance.  You can click on
the center of the cannon’s wheel and raise the firing platform up almost 13 meters. Fill in
the data table below by first choosing an initial speed.  As the object is in motion record the
remaining data. 

Object: Object: Object:


Angle: 0 degrees Angle: 0 degrees Angle: 0 degrees
Initial Initial Initial
Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal
Speed: Speed: Speed:
Max. 4 meters Max. 8 meters Max. 12 meters
height: height: height:
Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal
Distance: Distance: Distance:
Time: Time: Time:

1 2
Calculate the drop time using ∆ y = a t and horizontal distance d=v i t (Solve each equation for
2
time.)

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