Need help finishing projectile motion lab

Date:

Student: Sheena Beierman

Abstract

The purpose of this lab is to apply what I know about projectile motion and use kinematics to predict how far a projectile will travel. This is performed by launching a marble off of a table or other elevated surface and measuring the horizontal distance that the marble travels. The second part will look at a rocket being launched at different angles and the influence of gravity. I will determine the relationship between the angle at which a projectile was launched and the time of flight of the rocket.

Introduction

Background: A projectile is an object acted on by gravity alone.  A projectile is any object which, once projected, continues in motion by its own inertia and is influenced only by the downward force of gravity. In this lab, it can be assumed that projectiles are fired either vertically or horizontally. 

Objective: The objective of this experiment is to predict the range of a projectile set in motion. Learn how to solve projectile motion problems. Understand that the acceleration due to gravity is constant (9.8 m/s2) and downward toward the center of the Earth. Understand that the horizontal motion and the vertical motion are disconnected.

Hypothesis: My hypothesis for the marble experiment is that as the initial height of the marble increases the horizontal distance will also increase. For the rocket launch experiment, my hypothesis is that as the angle of the projectile decreases the time of flight will also decrease.  

Material and Methods

The materials needed for this lab are provided below:

Experiment 1:

Ramp

Marble

Corn starch

4 sheets of black construction paper

Tape measure

Monofilament line

Fishing sinker

Paper towel*

Water*

*You must provide

Procedure:

1. Place the ramp on a table and mark the location on at which you will release the marble. This will ensure the marble achieves the same velocity with each trial.

2. Create a plumb line by launching the fishing sinker to the monofilament line.

3. Hold the string to the edge of the ramp, and mark the spot at which the weight touches the ground. Note: The plumb line helps to measure the exact distance from the edge of the ramp to the position where the marble “lands.”

4. Lay down a runway of black construct on paper.

5. Wet the marble all over with water, and drop into the cornstarch bag to coat. Roll on a paper towel to achieve a smooth, even coat of corn starch all over the marble (you do not want any chunks as it will affect the path of motion.) When the marble hits the construction paper, the force will cause some of the corn starch to come off, and leave a mark on the construction paper so you can see the point of first contact!

6. Begin the experiment by releasing the marble at the marked point on the ramp.

7. Measure the distance traveled to the first mark made on the carbon paper using the tape measure. Record this value in Table 1 on the following page.

8. Repeat steps 5-7 nine more times and record your data in Table 1.

9. Next, use your data to calculate the velocity of the marble for each t

Experiment 2:

4 Squeeze Rockets™

1 Squeeze Rocket™ Bulb

Protractor

Tape measure

Stopwatch

Procedure:

1. Mark the spot from which the rockets will be launched.

2. Load a Squeeze Rocket™ onto the bulb.

Note: The Squeeze Rocket™ is a trademark product name. The “rocket” itself does not use a self-propelled mechanism. ACer a rocket is launched, gravity is the only major force which acts upon the “rocket”.

3. Using a protractor, align the rocket to an angle of 90° (vertical).

4. Squeeze the bulb (you will need to replicate the same pressure for each trial), and simultaneously start the stopwatch upon launch (alternatively, have a partner help you keep time). Measure and record the total time the rocket is in the air. Repeat this step three or more times, and average your results. Record your results in Table 3.

tavg=_1.38 sec_

5. Calculate the initial velocity of the rocket (v_initial = v_oy) using the kinematics equations.

6. Record your calculation in Table 3. (Hint: you can take the initial height as zero. The vertical velocity is zero at the peak of the flight, when the time is equal to t/2.)

7. Repeat this trial two more times, and record the values in Table 3.

8. Choose four additional angles to fire the rocket from. Before launching the rocket, calculate the expected range using the vertical velocity and the angle from which the rockets will be fired. Remember that you can use zero for any initial positions, and that the acceleration due to gravity, g, is -9.8 m/s2 . Record these values in Table 3.

9. Next, align the rocket with the first angle choice and fire it with the same force you used initially. Try to record launches where the rocket travels in a parabola and does not stall or flutter at the top. Measure the distance traveled with the tape measure. Repeat this for two additional trials, recording the actual range in Table 3.

Results

Data table for marble experiment (Procedure 1):

Data table for marble experiment (Procedure 2):

Data table for rocket experiment – vertical launch

Data tables for rocket experiment – angle experiments

Analysis and Discussion

Marble experiment calculations

Show your calculation of the launch velocity of the marble as a function of height and distance travelled (needed for Procedure 1 in the eScience manual):

Use your equation above to solve for the range as a function of launch velocity and height (needed for Procedure 2 in the eScience manual):

Rocket calculations

Show your calculation of the launch velocity of the rocket as a function of flight time.

Describe how you came up with your predicted ranges.  What relation did you use?

Based on your experimental results, please answer the following questions:

Marble Experiment

·  Suppose you altered your existing ramp so that the marbles had twice their initial velocity right before leaving the ramp. How would this change the total distance traveled and the time that the marbles were in the air?

The total distance traveled would double because they had double the horizontal speed. At the same time both marbles would spend about the same amount of time in the air since vertical motion is not affected.

·  Did your prediction in Procedure 2 come close to the actual spot? Find the percent error of your predicted distance (expected) compared to the actual average distance (observed).  What are some sources of error in this experiment?

% error = [ (observed value ‐ expected value)]/ expected valueX100

Air resistance could cause a source of error as well as the movement of the marble across the table. If it doesn’t roll perfectly horizontally it will cause error.

Rocket Experiment

·  Of the three angles that you tested, what angle gave the greatest range?  The least?

The angle that gives the greatest range is the one at 45 degrees.

·  Draw a FBD for a rocket launched at an arbitrary angle (assume the rocket has just only barely left the launch tube, and neglect air resistance).

·  What role does air resistance play in affecting your data?

Air resistance always plays a role in these types of experiments. Air resistance will affect the rocket’s speed as gravity pulls down. All in all, air resistance will reduce the acceleration of the rocket. 

·  Discuss any additional sources of error, and suggest how these errors might be reduced if you were to redesign the experiment.

Inconsistent launch speeds and movement of the rocket during the launch, since these rockets are so testy, could also be a source of error. The perfect experiment would be to use a vacuum with an automatic launcher.  This would reduce the air resistance source of error as well as the movement of the rocket during launch.

·  How would a kicker on a football team use his knowledge of physics to better his game? List some other examples in sports or other applications where this information would be important or useful.