PHYSICS

Projectile Motion
Investigation
Manual
PROJECTILE MOTION

Table of Contents Overview

In this investigation, students study projectile motion by exploring
2 Overview two-dimensional motion and how vectors are used to describe the
2 Outcomes trajectory of an object. They will observe the motion of an object
2 Time Requirements launched horizontally at various speeds and will learn how to
predict the motion of the launched object by combining their prior
3 Background
knowledge of kinematics with new knowledge of vectors and the
6 Materials trajectory of projectiles.
7 Safety
7 Technology Outcomes
8 Preparation • Describe what factors affect the trajectory of a projectile.
9 Activity 1 • Explain how vectors are used to describe two-dimensional and
10 Disposal and Cleanup projectile motion.
• Predict the trajectory of a horizontally launched projectile using
10 Observations
vectors and kinematic equations.

Time Requirements
Preparation .................................................................... 15 minutes
Activity 1: Launching a Projectile in a
Horizontal Direction ...................................... 30 minutes

Key
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link to results and required
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Background
Projectiles are objects that are given an initial questions can all be calculated by applying
velocity and subsequently travel along their kinematic equations and some knowledge about
trajectory (flight path) due to their own inertia. vectors.
In sports, a projectile is a basketball that has
Projectiles tend to follow a parabolic trajectory.
been thrown through a hoop, a pitched baseball,
If you draw a line that follows the movement
or a golf ball that has been hit by a golf club. At
of a ball after you throw it, you would see the
a circus, a clown launched from a cannon or a
shape of a parabola. The shape of the parabola
trapeze artist soaring through the air are exam-
depends on the initial speed and the release
ples of projectile motion.
angle, but all projectiles launched at an angle
Vectors describe the velocity, acceleration, follow this parabolic curve (see Figure 1).
and forces that act upon a projectile in terms
Figure 1.
of direction and magnitude. The principles of
vector addition are used to understand and
predict the trajectory of projectiles as well as
other applications of two-dimensional motion,
such as circular motion or the elliptical orbits of
planets and comets. Therefore, vector addition
is an important subject in the field of mechan-
ics—a branch of physics that studies how phys-
ical bodies behave when subjected to forces or
displacements.

To understand the motion of a projectile, you

need to know the initial parameters. You can
perform many calculations on a projectile’s
trajectory to find things such as maximum
To understand the motion of a projectile, it helps
height, the time of flight, and the range (hori-
to consider the object as moving in two dimen-
zontal distance) the object will travel. For
sions: the vertical (y) direction and the horizontal
example, a ball thrown with less force has a
(x) direction. The velocity of the projectile at any
lower speed and hits the ground sooner and
given time can be broken down or resolved into
nearer than the same ball thrown with greater
a vector in the x direction and a vector in the y
force. However, the angle at which the ball is
direction. The magnitudes of these vectors are
thrown also affects the trajectory of the ball.
independent of one another. Gravity only affects
Which matters more: the initial speed or the
the vertical component of the velocity, not the
release angle? What happens when a ball is
horizontal component.
thrown at a high speed but at a shallow angle?
Will it travel farther than a ball traveling at a low
speed at a greater angle? The answers to these continued on next page

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PROJECTILE MOTION

Background continued
Consider Figure 1. When the projectile is motion in the horizontal direction is constant and
launched, the velocity, v, consists of two inde- can be described with this simple equation:
pendent, perpendicular components: vx and
vy. If air resistance is negligible, the horizontal
component of the velocity (vx ) remains constant,
whereas the vertical component of the velocity where
(vy ) changes due to gravitational acceleration.
• vx is the magnitude of the horizontal
The initial value for vy decreases as the projectile
component of the projectile’s velocity
travels to the highest point in the parabolic arc
• x is the horizontal displacement that the object
and then increases in the opposite direction as
travels
the projectile descends. If air resistance is negli- • t is the time
gible, the vertical velocity of the projectile when
it returns to the elevation from which it was Although the projectile’s velocity in the hori-
launched will have the same magnitude as when zontal direction is constant, its velocity in the
the projectile was launched, but the direction will y direction is constantly being accelerated by
have turned 180°. gravity at a rate of g = 9.8 m/s2.

Consider two projectiles launched horizontally at If a projectile is fired at an angle of 0° from the
exactly the same time and from the same height, horizontal (i.e., in the x direction), the time for
but one projectile has an initial velocity that is the projectile to fall to the ground depends only
twice the other projectile. If the ground beneath on the initial height and the acceleration due to
the projectiles is level and air resistance is gravity. The time is independent of the horizontal
ignored, both projectiles will land on the ground velocity.
at the same time. This may seem counterintuitive,
The motion of the projectile in the y direction,
because the projectile with the greater speed is
which is affected due to the acceleration of
traveling farther. But experimentation proves that
gravity, can be described by these kinematic
the time of flight of both projectiles will be the
equations:
same and that both projectiles will land at the
same time. The projectile with the greater velocity
will land farther and its parabolic trajectory will be
different, but the time for the two projectiles to
reach the ground will be the same.

When air resistance is taken into account, the

mathematics describing the motion of projectiles
can be challenging, but in many cases the air
resistance is negligible and can be ignored. If air where
resistance is ignored, the motion of a projectile • y is the displacement of the projectile in the y
can be described by kinematic equations. The direction
continued on next page

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• a is the acceleration in the y direction, which in that has only a horizontal component. To
this context is equal to the acceleration due to measure the horizontal distance that the projec-
gravity, g = 9.8 m/s2 tile travels, you will need to know the horizontal
• vy2 is the velocity of the object in the y direction speed of the projectile and the time that the
at time t2 projectile is in the air.
• vy1 is the velocity in the y direction at time t1
• ∆t is the time of flight between t1 and t2 The projectile in this activity is the metal sphere
from the conceptual physics mechanics module
Because the magnitudes of perpendicular kit. The sphere will roll down an incline using the
vectors are independent of each other, you can angle bar as a track, then transition to a grooved
calculate the time that a projectile travels by ruler so that it travels horizontally when it leaves
considering only the vertical component of the the table. You will apply your knowledge of kine-
velocity. Once you know the time of flight for the matics to determine the velocity of the sphere as
projectile, calculate the horizontal distance that it leaves the table.
the object travels by multiplying this time by the
horizontal speed of the projectile. Since the sphere has no vertical velocity as it
leaves the table, you will determine the time for
In Activity 1, you will predict and then measure the sphere to reach the ground by the height of
the horizontal distance of a projectile launched the table and the acceleration due to gravity
from an elevated position with an initial velocity (g = 9.8 m/s2).

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PROJECTILE MOTION

Materials
Included in the conceptual physics Needed from the central
mechanics module kit materials set:

Metal sphere Acrylic sphere Angle bar Yellow grooved String Washer
ruler

Clay
Tape measure Protractor
Needed but not supplied:
• Book
• Masking tape
• Calculator
• Table (or other level surface)
• Digital device capable of recording videos
(optional)

Reorder Information: Replacement supplies

for the Projectile Motion investigation
(Conceptual Physics Mechanics Module kit,
item number 580404) can be ordered from
Carolina Biological Supply Company.

Call: 800.334.5551 to order.

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Safety Technology
Safety goggles should be worn at all Alternate Methods for Collecting Data Using
times during this activity, which involves the Digital Devices
movement and acceleration of objects. Take Much of the uncertainty in physics experi-
care during the execution of this activity to avoid ments arises from human reaction time error
injury. in measuring the times of events. Some of the
time intervals are very short, which increases the
Read all the instructions for this investigation
effect of human error due to reaction time.
before beginning. Follow the instructions closely,
and observe established safety practices, Observing the experiment from a good vantage
including the use of appropriate personal protec- point that removes parallax errors and recording
tive equipment. measurements for multiple trials helps to mini-
mize error; using a digital device as an alternate
Do not eat, drink, or chew gum while performing
method of data collection may further minimize
this activity. Wash your hands with soap and
error. Many digital devices, such as smart-
water before and after performing the activity.
phones and tablets, have cameras and software
Clean the work area with soap and water after
that allow the user to pause or slow down the
completing the investigation. Keep pets and chil-
video. If you film the activity against a scale
dren away from lab materials and equipment.
such as a tape measure, you can use your video
playback program to record position and time
data. This can provide more accurate data and
may eliminate the need for multiple trials.

If the time on your device’s playback program is

not sufficiently accurate, you may download an
app such as the following free apps:

• Hudl Technique
iOS and Android (https://www.hudl.com/
products/technique)

• SloPro
iOS (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/slopro-
1000fps-slow-motion/id507232505?mt=8)

Android (https://slopro.en.uptodown.com/
android)

Or you may upload the video to your computer.

Your operating system or software suite may
include video playback programs, or these
programs may be available for download.

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PROJECTILE MOTION

Preparation
1. Locate a smooth table at least 70 centimeters 6. Tape the ruler to the table to secure it, placing
above the floor. the tape behind the point where the angle bar
2. Clear the table and the floor in front of it. rests on the ruler so that the tape does not
3. Position the book on the table so when one interfere with the sphere as it rolls.
end of the angle bar rests on the book the 7. On the edge of the table just below the end of
other end stops about 5 centimeters from the the ruler, tape a piece of string so the string
table’s edge (see Figure 2). hangs vertically from the table. The string
4. Place some clay on the book to create a seat should stop about 3 centimeters from the
for the angle bar. floor.
5. Place the yellow grooved ruler at the end of 8. Tie the washer to the bottom end of the
the angle bar so that the angle bar rests in the string. This is a plumb line and will allow you
groove and the end of the ruler aligns with the to find the point on the floor directly below
table’s edge. the point where the sphere will leave the
table.
Note: For this activity, the sphere must roll 9. Measure the angle of the angle bar vs. the
down the angle bar and leave the table table with the protractor (see Figure 2).
with a horizontal velocity. The groove in Record the value in Data Table 1 in column θ
the ruler allows the sphere to transition for trial 1.
from the incline to a horizontal direction. 10. Mark a point about 3 centimeters from the
higher end of the angle bar. This will be the
start point.

Figure 2.

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ACTIVITY

ACTIVITY 1
A Launching a Projectile in a by:
Horizontal Direction
1. Using the tape measure, measure straight Substitute the angle of the incline for θ, and
down from the top of the table to the floor. record the value for acceleration in Data
Follow the plumb line to make sure the tape Table 1.
measure is straight. 4. Use the value for acceleration to find the
2. Rearrange the kinematic equation for vertical horizontal speed of the sphere as it leaves
displacement (∆x) to write an equation for the table by applying the following kinematic
time. equation:

• vx is the translational velocity of the sphere

as it reaches the bottom of the angle bar.
• v1 is the initial velocity of the sphere.
• a is the acceleration of the sphere.
Because the sphere is in free-fall after it
• ∆x is the length of the angle bar from the
leaves the table, the acceleration will be equal start point to the end of the slope.
to gravitational acceleration:
Assume the sphere travels at this speed along
the length of the horizontal ruler. Rearrange
the equation, and substitute the value for a
The displacement x is the vertical height from
(acceleration) from Step 3 and the length of
the table to the floor.
the angle bar from the start point to the end of
the ramp.
Therefore, the equation for the time of flight, t,
can be rewritten:
Record the value for vx in Data Table 1.
5. Multiply the value for the horizontal velocity
(vx ) by the time (found in Step 2). Record the
Calculate the value for time using this
value (in meters) in Data Table 1. This is the
equation, and write the value in Data Table 1.
distance that the sphere will travel before it
This time should be the same for each trial.
strikes the floor.
3. Calculate the horizontal velocity the sphere
6. Using the tape measure, find the point on
will have as it leaves the table by calculating
the floor that is at the same distance from
the velocity of the sphere at the bottom of
the table as the value calculated in Step 5.
the incline. First, determine the acceleration
Measure from directly beneath the plumb line
of the sphere as it rolls down the incline. The
and in the same direction that the angle bar is
acceleration of the sphere as it rolls is given
pointing.
continued on next page

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ACTIVITY

ACTIVITY 1 continued traveled by the sphere.

7. Place the sphere at the start point on the high

end of the angle bar.
Record your results in Data Table 1.
8. Release the metal sphere, and allow it to roll
down the angle bar, across the grooved ruler, 11. Repeat the experiment with the acrylic
and off the table. The sphere should land on sphere.
or close to the point you marked on the floor. 12. Repeat the experiment using both the metal
9. Measure the distance to the point where the and acrylic spheres, increasing the angle by
sphere struck the floor. Record the actual 5° and then by 10°.
distance in meters in Data Table 1.
Disposal and Cleanup
10. Find the percent error between the distance
Return the equipment to the module kit and
you calculated and the distance actually
materials set, and clean the work area.

Observations
Data Table 1.
Calculated
Actual
Distance Percent
Trial Sphere θ Distance
x = vxt Error
(meters)
(meters)

1 Metal

2 Acrylic

3 Metal + 5°

4 Acrylic + 5°

5 Metal + 10°

6 Acrylic + 10°

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NOTES

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 PHYSICS
Projectile Motion
Investigation Manual

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