Physics Project: Analysis of Factors Affecting the Range of a Projectile
Objective:
This project aims to explore the relationship between the launch angle and initial velocity of a
projectile and how these factors affect the range (horizontal distance) covered by the projectile. We
will use a projectile launcher to vary both the launch angle and initial velocity, and measure the
range for each condition.
Introduction to Projectile Motion:
Projectile motion refers to the motion of an object thrown or projected into the air under the
influence of gravity. A projectile follows a curved path known as a trajectory, and the range is the
horizontal distance the projectile travels before hitting the ground. The trajectory of the projectile is
determined by:
Initial velocity (v0v_0): The speed at which the projectile is launched.
Launch angle (θ\theta): The angle at which the projectile is launched relative to the
horizontal.
Acceleration due to gravity (gg): The constant acceleration that pulls the projectile
downward (9.8 m/s² on Earth).
The range RR of a projectile is given by the equation:
Where:
R is the range,
v0 is the initial velocity,
θ is the launch angle,
g is the acceleration due to gravity.
From this formula, it is clear that:
1. The launch angle influences the range in a sinusoidal way, with the maximum range
occurring at 45° (assuming a constant initial velocity).
2. The initial velocity is directly proportional to the square of the range, meaning that
increasing the initial velocity increases the range significantly.
Materials Required:
1. Projectile Launcher (with adjustable launch angle and initial velocity settings)
2. Projectiles (small spherical objects, such as rubber balls or plastic pellets)
3. Measuring Tape (to measure the range covered by the projectile)
4. Protractor (to measure the launch angle accurately)
5. Stopwatch (optional, if you wish to measure flight time)
6. Graph Paper (for plotting experimental results)
7. Notebook and Pen (for recording data and observations)
8. Calculator (to compute averages and analyze data)
Experimental Setup:
1. Positioning the Launcher:
o Set up the projectile launcher on a flat, stable surface.
o Ensure the launcher is securely placed and capable of adjusting both the launch
angle and initial velocity.
2. Measuring Tape Placement:
o Place a measuring tape along the horizontal ground, extending from the launcher
outward. This will help you accurately measure the range (the horizontal distance
the projectile travels).
3. Calibration:
o Adjust the launcher so that you can change the launch angle (using the protractor)
and the initial velocity (if the launcher has adjustable velocity).
Procedure:
Step 1: Measuring Range at Different Launch Angles
1. Set Initial Velocity Constant:
o Choose an initial velocity setting on the launcher (e.g., 10 m/s) and leave it fixed for
all trials in this section.
2. Adjust Launch Angle:
o Set the launch angle to 15° using the protractor. Make sure the angle is measured
accurately.
o Launch the projectile and immediately measure the horizontal distance (range) it
travels from the point of launch to where it lands.
o Record this range in the table.
3. Repeat for Other Angles:
o Adjust the angle to 30°, 45°, 60°, and 75° sequentially, and repeat the launching and
measurement process.
o Ensure the initial velocity remains the same for all trials.
o Record the range for each launch angle.
4. Multiple Trials:
o For each launch angle, perform at least 3 trials and compute the average range for
each angle. This helps reduce errors and increases the reliability of the data.
Step 2: Measuring Range at Different Initial Velocities
1. Set Launch Angle to 45°:
o For this part of the experiment, set the launch angle to 45° as it is the theoretical
optimal angle for maximum range at constant initial velocity.
2. Vary Initial Velocity:
o Adjust the launcher to different initial velocity settings, such as 5 m/s, 10 m/s, and
15 m/s.
o For each velocity setting, launch the projectile and measure the range as before.
o Record the ranges for each initial velocity.
3. Multiple Trials:
o As with the angle trials, perform at least 3 trials for each velocity and calculate the
average range for each velocity.
Data Collection:
As you perform each trial, record the launch angles and corresponding ranges in a table format. You
may also wish to include additional columns for recording individual trial results and their averages.
Example Data Table for Launch Angle:
Example Data Table for Initial Velocity:
Data Analysis:
1. Range vs Launch Angle:
o Plot a graph of launch angle (x-axis) versus range (y-axis) using the average range
values from the first part of the experiment.
o According to the theory, the graph should show a parabolic curve, with the range
being maximized at an angle of 45°.
2. Range vs Initial Velocity:
o Plot a graph of initial velocity (x-axis) versus range (y-axis) for a constant launch
angle of 45°.
o This graph should show a quadratic relationship where increasing the initial velocity
results in a significantly larger range.
3. Comparison with Theory:
o Compare the experimental results with the theoretical equation for the range of a
projectile.
o Check if the maximum range occurs at 45° and if increasing the initial velocity
increases the range.
Results and Observations:
Effect of Launch Angle: As expected, the range increases as the launch angle approaches 45°
and decreases for angles above and below this optimal value. This is consistent with the
theoretical model that predicts maximum range at 45°.
Effect of Initial Velocity: The range increases with increasing initial velocity. A higher initial
velocity means the projectile spends more time in the air and travels farther horizontally, as
predicted by the equation R∝v02R \propto v_0^2.
Conclusion:
This experiment demonstrates the key factors affecting the range of a projectile: the launch angle
and initial velocity. The results align with the theory of projectile motion:
The range is maximized at a launch angle of 45°.
The range increases significantly with higher initial velocity.
These findings provide valuable insights into how projectiles behave and can be applied to various
real-life situations, such as sports (e.g., launching a ball), engineering (e.g., launching missiles), and
even space exploration (e.g., calculating satellite trajectories).
Further Considerations and Improvements:
1. Air Resistance: This experiment assumes no air resistance, which is not the case in real-world
scenarios. To model this more accurately, a drag coefficient could be introduced into the
calculations.
2. Accuracy of Measurements: To improve precision, ensure the measuring tape is correctly
aligned, and the launch angle is accurately set each time.
3. Repeat Trials: More trials could be conducted to account for any errors or variations in the
launch mechanism.
This project allows for hands-on understanding and application of principles of kinematics and
projectile motion, reinforcing key physics concepts while giving practical experience with data
collection, analysis, and scientific experimentation.
