Experiment No : M4

Experiment Name : Projectile Motion and Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Experiment Goals : To examine motion in two dimensions.

To determine the range and maximum height of a ball launched
from a ballistic pendulum based on its launch angle and speed.
To understand the variables affecting the launch speed of a ball
from a ballistic pendulum.
To comprehend the law of conservation of mechanical energy
through energy transformation.

Required Equipment : Ballistic pendulum, recording paper (carbon paper - 1 roll = 25 m),
steel ball, wooden ball, graded platform, ruler (1𝑚 = 1000 𝑚𝑚),
barrel base, and photodedector.

THEORY

Projectile motion is a type of motion commonly encountered in classical mechanics and analyzed
in two dimensions. It describes the trajectory of an object launched at a certain speed and angle
under the influence of gravity. The fundamental characteristics of projectile motion is that its
horizontal and vertical components can be analyzed independently. Although both components
occur simultaneously, this separation makes the motion more understandable and solvable.
Projectile motion depends on factors such as the launch angle, initial velocity, and gravity, which
determine the object’s range, maximum height, and time in the air. While gravity acts only
vertically, the object’s horizontal movement continues at a constant velocity. We can explain the
basic principles and equations of projectile motion using Newton’s laws of motion and kinematic
principles.

Key Parameters:

Mass (m): The mass of the object undergoing projectile motion. Although mass does not directly
play a role in the kinematic analysis, it affects the gravitational force on the object: 𝐹 = 𝑚 · 𝑔

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Initial Velocity (𝒗₀): Projectile motion begins with an initial velocity 𝝊𝟎 and launch angle 𝜽. The
motion has both horizontal (𝑣0𝑥 ) and vertical (𝑣0𝑦 ) components. The total initial velocity 𝜐0 can
be expressed as:

𝑣0𝑥 = 𝑣0 cos 𝜃 (horizontal component)

𝑣0𝑦 = 𝑣0 sin 𝜃 (vertical component)

Launch Angle (θ): The angle at which the object is launched significantly affects the trajectory
of the motion, depending on the initial velocity. Typically, an object reaches its longest range when
launched at a 45° angle, as horizontal and vertical speed components are balanced at this angle.

Gravitational Acceleration (g): This is the result of the gravitational force acting only in the
vertical direction.. It is represented as 𝑔 = 9.81 𝑚/𝑠 2 .It does not affect horizontal motion, so the
horizontal velocity remains constant throughout the motion. Gravitational acceleration reduces the
object’s vertical velocity over time and eventually pulls it down.

The initial velocity components and gravitational acceleration, depending on the launch angle,
determine how long the object stays in the air and how far it travels.

Figure 4.1 Projectile Motion.

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Equations of Motion:

Horizontal Motion: In the absence of air resistance, the horizontal velocity remains constant, and
the equations for horizontal motion are:

𝜐𝑥 (𝑡) = 𝜐0 ∙ cos 𝜃

𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑣0𝑥 ∙ 𝑡

Vertical Motion: In the vertical direction, the object slows down as it ascends, then accelerates
downward after reaching zero velocity. The vertical motion can be expressed with the following
equations:

𝜐𝑦 (𝑡) = 𝜐0 ∙ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝑔 ∙ 𝑡

1
𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑣0𝑦 ∙ 𝑡 − 𝑔 ∙ 𝑡 2
2

This equation explains how the height of the object changes over time in the vertical axis.

Maximum Height (𝒚𝒎𝒂𝒙 ): The maximum height in projectile motion is reached when the vertical
velocity becomes zero:

0 = 𝜐0 . 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝑔. 𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑥

𝜐0 ∙ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
𝑔

Substituting this into the vertical position equation gives the maximum height:

(𝜐0 ∙ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃)2
𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
2𝑔

Flight Time (𝑻): The time it takes for the object to fall back down after reaching its maximum
height is equal to the time it took to reach that height from the moment it was launched. The vertical
component of the object's initial and final position is:

𝑦(𝑇) = 𝑦(0) = 0

Flight time is calculated as:

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 2 ∙ 𝜐0. ∙ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑇=
𝑔

The flight time of the object obtained here is twice the time it takes to reach the maximum height
(𝑇 = 2 ∙ 𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑠 ).

Range (𝑹): The total horizontal distance covered is called the range, and it is found by multiplying
the flight time by the horizontal component of the velocity:

𝑣02 ∙ sin(2𝜃)
𝑅 = 𝑣0𝑥 ∙ 𝑡 =
𝑔

In the experiment, the initial velocity needed to launch the ball is provided by compressing a
spring. The elastic potential energy stored in the spring when compressed is:

1
𝑈𝑠 = ∙ 𝑘 ∙ 𝑥2
2

Upon releasing the spring, this energy is transferred to the ball:

1
𝐾= ∙ 𝑚 ∙ 𝑣2
2

In the absence of air resistance, the potential energy stored in the spring is converted into kinetic
energy:

1 1
𝐸𝑖 = 𝐸𝑓 → ∙ 𝑘 ∙ 𝑥2 = ∙ 𝑚 ∙ 𝑣2
2 2

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EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Figure 4.2: Projectile Motion Experiment Setup.

The Projectile Motion Experiment Setup shown in Figure 5..2 consists of a ballistic pendulum, a
photodetector integrated at the muzzle of the pendulum for speed reading, a steel ball, a wooden
ball, and a platform at the same level as the muzzle of the pendulum. The platform surface is
covered with roll carbon paper for marking.

Part I:

1. First, place the steel ball into the setup so that the spring is compressed to level 1 (low
speed).
2. Release the spring, allowing the ball to launch as shown in the setup.
3. The photodetector integrated into the muzzle of the ballistic pendulum is set to read the
speed in this experiment. Record the exit speed of the ball from the photodetector display
as 𝜐0 in Table 4.1.
4. After the ball is launched, it makes a projectile motion and falls onto the platform. The
spot where the ball hits the platform will be marked by paint. Measure and record the range
(R) of the ball on the platform in Table 4.1.
5. After each measurement, mark the impact points with a circle to avoid confusion with the
next measurement.

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 6. Repeat your measurements twice more by changing the angle of the pendulum.
7. Calculate the range 𝑹 by using the exit speed and exit angle.
8. Calculate the flight time 𝑻.
9. Using the flight time, calculate the range 𝑹 again.
10. Calculate the maximum height 𝒉𝒎𝒂𝒙 .
11. Calculate the relative error for the measured and calculated range values.

Part 2:

12. Now perform the same experimental protocol using the wooden ball, and record your
measurement results. Ensure that you use the same angle values as those used in the first
part.
13. Did you measure the same exit velocity for both balls in the experiment? Explain using a
mathematical formula how the exit velocity depends on different parameters for each ball.
14. For both balls, plot the 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 − 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 graph using MS Excel on the same graph.

• Did the graphs overlap? Why or why not?

• Using a mathematical formula, explain which variable the difference depends on,
if any.
Tip: Reexpress the range equation using the velocity formula you derived in step 13.

15. For both balls, plot the Angle-Maximum Height graph using Excel on the same graph.

• Did the graphs overlap? Why or why not?

• Using a mathematical formula, explain which variable the difference depends on,
if any.
Tip: Reexpress the maximum height equation using the velocity formula you derived in step
13.

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 Table 4.1 Steel Ball.

Angle (𝜽) 𝒗𝟎 (𝒎/𝒔) 𝝂𝟎 𝒙 (𝒎/𝒔) 𝝂𝟎 𝒚 (𝒎/𝒔) 𝑻 (𝒔) 𝑹𝒆𝒙𝒑 (𝒎𝒎) 𝑹𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐 (𝒎𝒎) 𝒉𝒎𝒂𝒙 (𝒎)

𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟: =

Tablo 4.2 Wooden Ball

Angle (𝜽) 𝒗𝟎 (𝒎/𝒔) 𝝂𝟎 𝒙 (𝒎/𝒔) 𝝂𝟎 𝒚 (𝒎/𝒔) 𝑻 (𝒔) 𝑹𝒆𝒙𝒑 (𝒎𝒎) 𝑹𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐 (𝒎𝒎) 𝒉𝒎𝒂𝒙 (𝒎)

𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟: =

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