AP Physics Projectile Motion Lab
AP Physics Projectile Motion Lab
AP Physics Projectile Motion Lab
Purpose: To answer the scientific question: “What is the relationship between the initial height of a projectile
fired horizontally and the horizontal distance the projectile travels?”
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Data: Choose five heights from which to fire the dart gun, and measure the horizontal distance the dart travels
in each case. Then choose two quantities that can be graphed in order to form a straight line and fill in the
“linearized” data table.
Linearization Linearization
Initial Horizontal x-variable y-variable
Height Distance
H [m] D [m]
Graphs:
Conclusion:
Explain what type of relationship exists between initial height and horizontal distance for a projectile fired
horizontally.
Use your projectile motion equations to show why this is the type of relationship.
Linearize your data so that the graph of the (new linearized) data is a line.
Use the slope of your linearized graph to calculate the initial speed of the dart as it leaves the gun.