COLLEGE OF SCIENCES

Department of Applied Physics

LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS IN
PHYSICS (1)

Projectile Motion

Prepared by : BASSAM RASHED

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 Projectile Motion
Part I
Objectives:
The objective of experiment is to show that the time of flight of a
ball launched horizontally is independent of its initial speed.

Apparatus:
Pasco computer interface, projectile launcher, two photogates,
time of flight accessory, plastic ball.
For safety : 1- Wear safety Goggles 2- Do not place foreign
objects into the launcher 3- Do not look into the launcher 4-
Do not aim the launcher at others.

Theory:
A ball which is launched horizontally ( vertical component of
its velocity = 0 ) off a table from a height (h) takes the same
amount of time (t) to reach the ground as a ball that drops from
rest at the same height . This time does not change as the initial
velocity is varied and is given by the equation:

2h
t , where g is the
g
acceleration due to
gravity = 9.8 m/s2
Procedure:
1- Clamp the
projectile launcher
to one end of the
table with the
launcher aimed
away from the table.

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 2- Adjust the angle of the projectile launcher to zero degrees,
so the ball will launch horizontally. You can use a spirit
level for best results.
3- Plug the two photogates and the time of flight accessory into
the computer interface as shown on the figure.

4- Measure the distance between the two photogates, and set it

to 0.10 m

5- Your instructor will show you how to run the timing

program and set it to measure the time (t1) elapsed between
the two photogates and (t2) between the second photogate
and timer plate.

6- Put the plastic ball into the projectile launcher and cock it to
the short range position.

7- Test fire the ball to determine where to place the timer plate
on the floor. Put the timer plate on the floor where the ball
hits.

8- Start the timing program, and shoot the ball on the short
range position then record the times (t1) and (t2).

9- Repeat steps 6-8 for the medium range and long range.

10- Record your data in table 1 of your lab report.

Data Analysis: Part I

1- Calculate the time of flight T = t1+ t2 .

2- Calculate the initial velocity of the ball.
3- Compare the times of flight for the three range
settings.
4- Write your conclusion about this part.

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 Part II
Objectives:
In this part you are going to verify that the horizontal
component of the velocity of a projectile is constant throughout its
flight.

Apparatus:
Pasco computer interface, projectile launcher, two
photogates, time of flight accessory, measuring tape.

Theory:
For a projectile motion, the horizontal and vertical motions
are independent. In the vertical direction, the projectile accelerates
downward as gravity pulls on it. But in the horizontal direction,
there is no acceleration and the horizontal component of the
velocity is constant if friction is neglected. The horizontal velocity
can be found by using the horizontal distance (X) and the time of
flight (T).

Procedure:
1- Fix the projectile launcher on the floor and adjust
the angle to any desired value (e.g., 30  ) .
2- Connect the two photogates and the time of flight
accessory to the interface.
3- Your instructor will show you how to run the
timing program and measure the time of flight.

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 4- Set up the vertical target board 0.5 m in front of the
projectile launcher. Use the plumb bob to aid with
the measurement of the exact distance between the
muzzle of the launcher and the timer plate ( see the
figure ).
5- Record the distance X=0.5 m in table 2 of your lab
report.
6- Load and cock the launcher to the long range
position .
7- Fire a test shot to see where the ball hits the vertical
target. Hold the timer plate against the vertical
board at the place where the ball hits.
8- Shoot the ball again and record the time ( T = t1 +t2
) as you have done in part I .
9- Move the vertical target to 1.0 m, 1.5 m, 2.0 m, and
2.5 m in succession, finding the time of flight for
each position and recording the values in table 2 of
your lab report.

Data Analysis: Part II

1- Calculate the actual value for the horizontal

velocity using the initial speed v  and the
projection angle θ.
2- For each position calculate the horizontal velocity.
3- Write your conclusion about this part.

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 Part III
Objectives:
In this part you are invited to study the relationship between
the angle of the projectile and its range.
Apparatus:
Projectile launcher, carbon paper, measuring tape, and plastic
ball.

Theory:
For a projectile the range (R) depends on the angle of
projection (θ) and the initial velocity ( v  ) as seen from the
v 2 sin 2
equation R , where (g) is the acceleration due to
g
gravity. Using this equation , if you plot the relationship between
(R) as an ordinate and (sin2θ) as the abscissa you will get a
v 2
straight line of slope , so you can find the acceleration due to
g
gravity using this plot.

Procedure:
1- Place the projectile launcher on the floor and adjust the
angle to 5  .
2- Load and cock the launcher to the long range position.
3- From the previous parts record the value ( v  ) for the
velocity of the ball at the long range position.
4- Tape a piece of white paper and a piece of carbon paper to
the plate to record where the ball lands.
5- Fire a test shot to see where the ball hits the floor.
6- Shoot the ball again and measure the horizontal distance
along the floor to the point on the paper where the ball hits
the timer. This distance is the range (R).

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7- Change the angle to 15  , 25  , 35  , 45  , 55  , 65  , 75  , 85  and
repeat steps 2-6 .
8- Record your data for (R) and ( θ ) in table 3 of your lab
report.

Data Analysis: Part III

1- Calculate (sin2θ).

2- Draw the relationship between (θ ) and (R) using (R) as

the ordinate.

4- Draw the relationship between (R) and (sin2θ)

using (R) as the ordinate.

5- Calculate the slope of this straight line.

6- From the slope calculate the acceleration due to

gravity.

7- Calculate the percentage error in the measured

quantity g.

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 COLLEGE OF SCIENCES

Department of Applied Physics

LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS IN
PHYSICS (1)

Projectile Motion

STUDENT LAB REPORT

Name: ……….……………….……….…………….…… .

ID No.:…………………....…… Section:………..……... .

Partner’s name: ………….……………….….. .

Date:…………..………… .

Instructor’s name ………………………… .

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 Projectile Motion
(Part I)
Table 1
Distance between the first and the second photogate 0.10 m

Range t1(s) t2(s) v  (m/s) T= t1+ t2 (s)

Short

Medium

Long

Conclusion:

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 Projectile Motion
(Part II)
Table 2
θ = , v = , v  x  v  cos  =

Distance (m) t1(s ) t2(s) T= t1+ t2 (s ) v x (m/s)

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Conclusion:

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 Projectile Motion
(Part III)
Table 3
v  (m/s)

θ Sin (2θ ) R (m )

15

25

35

45

55

65

75

85

Slope = g= g % 

Conclusion:

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Questions:
2h
1- Derive the following two equations: t  , and
g
v 2 sin 2
R
g

2- Does a change in the initial speed change the time of

flight? If so, how?

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3- Refer to your range and angle graph. What angle
corresponds to the maximum range? Explain why this
particular angle produces the maximum range.

4- If a ball is dropped from the same

height and at the same time as the ball that
was shot horizontally (see figure),which
ball would hit the ground first? Explain.

5- Discuss the sources of error in this

experiment.

6- Write down your conclusion

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