Projectile Motion

Zhanseri Ikram, Phys161-1

Alshyn Mamyshov, Phys161-1

Nursultan Jubatyrov, Phys161-1

Abstract
To carry out this lab, a projectile was fired from cannon at different angles. The initial velocity of a
projectile at each firing was about the same. The horizontal distance was measured and average value
calculated. After calculating each initial velocity, it was clear that initial velocity was constant. All
measurements and calculations have possible error due to air resistance or firing cannon. This lab
helped to better understand the projectile motion.

Introduction
The phenomenon when a gravity makes an object to experience a motion in a two-dimension plane
called projectile motion. To describe the components of projectile motion common kinematic equations
are used. In our lab measurements were taken to find the average initial velocity of firings. The firing
were done from the cannon at different angles to the landing area that had same elevation as cannon.
Also this lab will help us to better understand kinematic equations, and the dependence of the velocity
on the angle of firing. The initial velocity should be about the same for all firings, because the same ruler
and the same cannon will be used to do this lab.

Experimental Description

Picture 1

The setup of projectile launcher, a ruler, a clean paper and a projectile are installed. First of all, the 25,
35, 45, 55, and 65 degree angles are set up by using protractor. After this a ball was shoved inside the
hole. By using the spring and a launcher there have been done 10 launches per each angle. The distance
between launcher and a crash site obtained by the ruler. Then the errors calculated per each try.
 Experimental Data
Data of our calculations provided below in Table 1. In addition, we obtained errors for ruler and
1 1
protractor, which are mm and degree , respectively.
2 2
Table 1: Distance data for each angle.

d9(cm d10(cm
Angle(deg) d1(cm) d2(cm) d3(cm) d4(cm) d5(cm) d6(cm) d7(cm) d8(cm) ) )
25 degrees 75.1 75.6 75.6 75.7 75.9 76 76.3 76.3 76.4 76.8
35 degrees 89.5 89.8 89.9 90.2 90.3 90.5 90.5 90.6 90.7 91.2
45 degrees 94.2 94.3 94.4 94.4 94.5 94.6 94.7 94.9 94.9 95.2
55 degrees 85.7 85.8 86.1 86.1 86.1 86.3 86.3 86.4 86.5 86.6
65 degrees 68.7 69.1 69.2 69.3 69.5 69.5 69.6 69.8 69.9 70.4

Analysis
Theory
The formulas for the horizontal motion can be written as following:

(1)

(2)

So, from the formula (2) we obtained v 0

v 0=
√ dg
sin ⁡(2 θ)
(3)

g = gravitational acceleration (9.8)

ɵ = angle between horizontal projection and launcher.
Because initial velocity and gravitational acceleration are constant. To reach the maximum
horizontal range value of 2 cos ⁡(θ)sin ⁡(θ) in (2) should be maximum. By calculating derivative of
2 cos ⁡(θ)sin ⁡(θ) to obtain maximum value, we can see that, maximum range will be at θ =45° .

To obtain error for velocity, we used (4) for partial derivative .

(4)
Then we placed (3) to (4) and got velocity error (5)
 √
2 2
∆d
2
d cos (2θ)∆ θ
∆ v=√ g + (5)
4 dsin(2θ) sind 3 (2 θ)

Analysis
For all angles we obtained the average initial velocities with their errors as shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Average initial velocity and it’s error

D average V average ∆v average

Angle (° ) (m) (m/s) (m/s)
75.969275 31.174898 0.0220233
25 56 42 3
90.319392 30.690971 0.0016659
35 15 27 7
94.609765 30.449559 0.0008127
45 28 93 8
86.189782 29.981131 0.0018376
55 63 71 6
69.499281 29.817842 0.0032763
65 09 11 63

Table 3. Range vs Angle Diagram

Rangle vs Angle
100

90

80

70

60
Range(cm)

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Angle(degree)

Firstly distances are obtained for all five angle (25, 35, 45, 55, 65). As we can see there are some
error for distances, as they were calculated by hands using ruler. Angle error is negligible.
 Conclusion
The data which we took were completed successfully. Due to error of a ruler and air resistance.
The results obtained with little amount of error. Finally we found initial velocity for launcher,
which is 30.422889±0.022 cm. Then data was analyzed and compared with the theoretical curve.
References
Picture1

http://www.pasco.com/prodCatalog/ME/ME-6800_projectile-launcher-short-range/

[1], [2]

Jewett, John W. Physics for scientists and engineers. Vol. 1, 4. Motion in Two Dimensions