AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 1
Spring 2024-25
Section: B4 , Group: 5

Study of
projectile
motion and
Supervised By
collision.
ANGKITA MISTRY TAMA

Submitted By

Name ID Contribution

S M Tahsin Rahman 25-60882-1 Introduction, Theory

Alif Kasid 25-60878-1 Theory
Jannatul Ferdous Maisha 25-60885-1 Apparatus , Procedure

MD. Annun Jaman Pritul 23-50564-1 Experiment data,Reasult, Discussion

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS Page no.

I. Title Page 1

II. Table of Content 2

1. Theory 3

2. Apparatus 4

3. Procedure 4

4. Experimental Data 5

5. Analysis and Calculation 5

6. Result 6-7

7. Discussion 8

8. References 8
Experiment Title: Study of Projectile Motion and
Collision.

Theory:

Projectile motion describes the motion of an object projected into the air,
influenced only by the force of gravity and initial velocity. This form of
motion is an example of two-dimensional motion which is a combination of
horizontal and vertical components. At the basic level approach, air
resistance is neglected and the motion of the objects thrown into the air
near the earth’s surface is analyzed for its trajectory, range, time of flight,
and maximum height etc.
key factors of Projectile Motion:

(a) Independence of horizontal and vertical components of

motion.
(b) The vertical motion is influenced by gravity with an
acceleration of 9.8 m/s² acting in the downward direction.
(c) The horizontal motion is characterized by constant velocity
(in absence of air resistance).
(d) The trajectory (the path followed) is parabolic.
(e) The horizontal distance moved by the projectile before it hits
the ground is called its range. The range of a
projectile depends on the initial speed and the angle of
launch.
(f) At the maximum height, the vertical component of the
velocity is zero. The time taken to reach the maximum
height is half the time of flight.
(g) Projectile motion finds application in different real-world
scenarios. For example, javelin throw, shot put, tennis,
cricket, etc. in sports; bullet, mortar shell, etc. in engineering;
and study of objects in motion in science. Figure 3.1: The projectile is thrown with an initial velocity, and angle ​
(h) However, in real-world scenarios air resistance and other with the x-axis. R and H represent the range and maximum height
respectively.
external forces complicate the motion leading to
deviation from idealized path.

Consider a projectile being shot at an initial speed v₀ and at an

angle θ₀ as shown in the fig. 3.1 below. The basic concepts in
kinematics like displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration, and
the equations of motion can be used to analyze the motion of
the projectile.
Horizontal Motion:

Vertical Motion:
 Maximum Height (H):

Horizontal Range
(R):

Angle of
Launch (θ):
Collision:
A collision is an event in which two or more bodies exert forces on each other within a short time.
The collision between a ball and a fixed smooth surface is presented in the following fig. 3.2.

A collision is characterized by three quantities: namely momentum, kinetic energy

and impulse. Collisions can either be elastic or inelastic. Analysis of momentum and
kinetic energies before and after collision can reveal whether the event is elastic or
inelastic. And Impulse is the change in momentum component along particular
direction.

Figure 3.2: A collision between a smooth ball and a table.

2.Apparatus

a)Marble
b)ramp
c)clamp
d)recording paper
e)carbon paper
f)meter scale
g)weighing scale.
 Procudure:

1. The apparatus was set up as shown in Fig. 3.3. Care was taken to ensure that the end of the
ramp appeared level with the table. A piece of recording paper was laid down on the floor, and
a sheet of carbon paper was placed on top. Each bounce of the ball left a mark on the
recording paper.

2. Once the apparatus was fixed, the recording paper was not moved until the data collection
was complete. However, the carbon paper was lifted at any time to inspect the collision points.
The position O on the floor was located using the marble ball, and the distance from O to a
reference point on the recording paper was measured. This allowed the paper to be moved
after data collection to a more suitable location for measuring S1​and S2.

3. To collect the data, the ball was released from a point near the top of the ramp, ensuring no
spin was imparted on the ball. This allowed it to roll down and bounce on the floor with minimal
spin. The procedure was repeated 10 times, releasing the ball from the same point on the
ramp each time.

4. From the recording paper, the average values of S1​and S2​were determined. By eye, the
circular region containing most of the bounce marks was identified (excluding any outliers). A
circle was drawn around this region, and its center was taken as the representative point. The
radius of the circle represented the uncertainty in S1​and S2​.

5. The heights h and H were measured as accurately as possible using a meter scale.

6. To measure H, a white upright cardboard with carbon paper was placed midway between
points A and B. Step 3 was repeated 10 times to allow the ball to strike the cardboard. The
height H was measured from the average position of the impact marks.

7. The mass of the marble was measured using a weighing scale.

5. Experimental Data
Table 3.1: Equations of motion for one dimensional and two dimensional
(projectile) motion

Height Height Average Uncertainty Average Uncertainty Mass of

h H Distance, in Distance, in Marble
S1 S1 S2 S2 m
(cm) (cm) (gm)
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
52.5 16.95 33.3 0/2.1 76.2 0/3.4 5.7

4. Analysis and Calculation

Table 3.2: Equations of motion for one dimensional and two-dimensional (projectile) motion.

Straight line (one Projectile (two dimensional) motion

Quantity dimensional) motion Horizontal Vertical

𝑉0𝑥 = 𝑉0cos𝜃0 𝑉0𝑦= 𝑉0sin𝜃0

component component

𝑎𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑦 = -g
Initial velocity u

𝑉𝑥 = 𝑉0𝑥 𝑉𝑦 = 𝑉0𝑦 – gt
Acceleration a
Velocity at any v = u + at
vy 2 = 𝑉0𝑦2 – 2gy
point v2 = u2 + 2as

Distance s = vt (constant x = 𝑉0𝑥𝑡 y = 𝑉0t – ½ gt2

velocity)
s = ut + ½ at2
 6. Result
Table 3.3: Some basic quantities related with projectile
motion
Quantities Corresponding Equations Values with Units

2ℎ
𝑡=√
1. Time for the ball to leave the ramp and hit the point A 0.327 sec
𝑔

𝑆1
𝑣𝑖𝑥 = 𝑡
2. Constant Horizontal velocity of the ball 101.733cm/sec

3. Vertical velocity just before it strikes the point A 𝑣𝑖𝑦 = −𝑔𝑡 -320.46

𝑣𝑖𝑦 = √2ℎ𝑔
Or,

320.78cm/sec
4. Velocity of the ball just before it strikes the point A in vector |𝑣𝑖| = √𝑣2 + 𝑣2
𝑖𝑥
𝑖𝑦
form 336.22cm/sec

𝜃 = tan−1 𝑣𝑖𝑦)
𝑖 𝑖𝑥
(𝑣

72.46 degree
Table 3.3 B: Some basic quantities related with projectile
motion after collision

5 Range of the projectile after bounce 𝑅 = 𝑆2 − 𝑆1 42.9cm

6 Angle of launch of the 𝜃 = tan−1 (4𝐻/R) 57.676 degree

projectile after bounce

𝑅×𝑔
𝑣𝑓 = √sin 2𝜃
7 Speed of the projectile after (bounce) 215.69cm/sec

𝑓
impact on the ground

8 x-component of the velocity of the 𝑣𝑓𝑥 = 𝑣𝑓 cos 𝜃𝑓 115.33cm/sec

projectile after impact

9 y-component of the velocity of the 𝑣𝑓𝑦 = 𝑣𝑓 sin 𝜃𝑓 182.2676cm/sex

projectile after impact
7. Discussion

This experiment helped us understand real-world projectile

motion and how collisions affect a moving object. While our
results were close to theoretical predictions, small errors and
uncertainties in measurement can lead to slight differences.
Overall, the experiment demonstrated key physics concepts like
motion, velocity, and energy transfer.
THANK YOU