Experiment No.

ENERGY CONSERVATION AND PROJECTILE MOTION

OBJECTIVE: To determine the range of a projectile through the conservation of energy principle.
MATERIALS: Iron stand, string, meter stick, two iron clamps, sharp blade, pendulum, two white
papers, scotch tape, and a carbon paper.
THEORY:
A pendulum bob, when at a certain height, acquires potential energy due to its position. When released,
this energy is converted to kinetic energy. This energy, in turn, is responsible for the projectile motion.

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 Since the effect of air resistance is negligible, the total amount of energy of the bob is the same at any
point of travel from A to B, in accordance with the energy conservation principle. In symbols,
U A + K A=U B + K B

As the bob is released, its potential energy decreases while its kinetic energy increases. The decrease in
its potential energy is equal to the increase in its kinetic energy. Hence, the speed of the ball as it reaches point
B is determined as follows:
U A + K A=U B + K B

1
m g H +0=m g h+ mv B 2
2
1
mg ( H−h )= m v B 2
2
1
g ( H−h )= v B 2
2
v B= √ 2 g( H−h)

At the instant the string is cut, the bob moves horizontally with a velocity v K which is equal to v g. At this
point, its motion is that of a projectile; its initial position ( y o ) is equal to h above the tabletop. It falls to point E,
undergoing a vertical displacement equal to – h; and the time required for it to reach point E is:
1
−h=v oy − g t 2 but v oy =0
2

t=
√ 2h
g

PROCEDURE:
1. Set up the apparatus as shown in Figure 1. Note that the sharp blade is positioned at a hairline distance
above the bob at B.
2. Let the bob hang from point D. this is the equilibrium position. Measure its height as shown in the
figure.
3. Raise the bob to a certain height H (with respect to the tabletop).
4. Released the bob. See to it that the blade attached to an extension clamp at C cuts the string. Observe.
5. Measure the horizontal distance, Re , between the point directly below B and the point at which the bob
hits the tabletop. This horizontal measurement represents the horizontal displacement, Re .

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6. Compare the value of Re with the analytical value computed as follows:

Ra =v xt

but v x =v B ; v B= √ 2 g ( H−h)∧t =
√ 2h
g

Ra =√ 2 g ( H−h )
√ 2h
g

Ra =√ 2 h ( H−h )

7. Determine the experimental error.

[ Difference between Re ∧Ra ]

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Name: Date: ______________
Course, Year, & Section: Group No. _________

Experiment No. 5

ENERGY CONSERVATION AND PROJECTILE MOTION

DATA:
H = 10 cm h = 5 cm

Trial H h Re Ra % Error
1 10cm 5cm 7.8cm 7.07 10.3%
2 10cm 5cm 7.7cm 7.07 8.91%
Trial Re Ra % Error
3 10cm 5cm 7.83cm 7.07 10.7%
[ Re −R a ]
%Error= x 100 %
Ra =√ 2 h( H−h) Ra
1 Re =7.8 cm ¿ √ 2 ( 5 )( 10−5 ) [ 7.8−7.07 ]
¿ x 100 %
¿ 7.07 7.07
¿ 10.3 %
[ Re −R a ]
%Error= x 100 %
Ra
Ra =√ 2 h( H−h)
2 Re =7.7 cm [ 7.7−7.07 ]
¿ √ 2 ( 5 )( 10−5 ) ¿ 7.07 ¿ x 100 %
7.07
¿ 8.91 %
[ Re −R a ]
%Error= x 100 %
Ra =√ 2 h( H−h) Ra
3 Re =7.83 cm ¿ √ 2 ( 5 )( 10−5 ) [ 7.83−7.07 ]
¿ x 100 %
¿ 7.07 7.07
¿ 10.7 %
COMPUTATIONS:
GENERALIZATION:
A projectile move through the air with only the force of gravity acting on it, so the total energy of
the projectile doesn't change. In this lesson, learn more about how to apply the law of conservation of
energy to projectile motion. In the pendulum moving sideways affected by the gravity and the internal
force inserted to the object.
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QUESTIONS / PROBLEMS:
1. Name the factors that contributed to the difference between the measured and the computed values
of the horizontal displacement (R).

2. Show that during the motion of a simple pendulum the work done by the tension on the string is zero.

KE=PE

3. Show that when a body of mass m is dropped from a height h, the sum of its kinetic and potential
energies is constant at any instant and is equal to mgh.

1
m v 2+ mgh=mgh
2
2
v =0
mgh=mgh

4. How much mechanical work is done in?

5. From what height should a car be dropped to gain the same kinetic energy it would have if it were
moving horizontally at 95 km/h?
1 2
m v =mgh
2
v2
=h
2g

( 26.39 m/ s )2
2 ( 9.8 m/ s2 )
h=35.53 m
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