Physics - How the change in height affects a horizontally launched projectile
Table of Contents
1.0 Aim:
The aim of this experiment is to determine how the height of a horizontally launched projectile affects the projectiles range.
2.0 Theory:
Galileo showed an appreciation for the proper relationship between mathematics, theoretical physics, and experimental physics.
Galileo discovered that a parabola was the theoretically ideal trajectory of an accelerated projectile in the absence of friction and other disturbances. Galileo agreed that there are limits to the validity of this theory and noted that a projectile trajectory which was close to the size Earth could not be presented as a parabola but he believed that distances reached with the artillery used in his day would only have a slight impact to the parabolic representation.
Using Galileo’s theory on projectile motion, we can deduce that projectile motion is made up of two motions.
a) Horizontal component which is constant velocity
b) Vertical component which is constant acceleration.
In class, a computer simulator was used to answer questions and indicate any relationships between the change in certain variables and how that affected different results. Since the mass and angle of inclination were constant, there was no changes in data gathered that was effected by said variables.
Through the computerized simulations, the class had gathered that as the height of the apparatus changed the time of flight increased and so did the horizontal range.
This graph shows the parabolic relationship between the change in the initial height and how it affects the horizontal range.
The velocity of the ball as it leaves the apparatus can be calculated by the conservation of energy equation. Due to the metal balls spherical shape, rotational motion must also be taken into account so the equation changes.
3.0 Materials/Equipment:
Metal Ball Plastic tube
Tray of sand Ruler (30cm and 1m)
Writing utensils (pencils) Tape measure Sticky Tape
4.0
1.0 Aim:
The aim of this experiment is to determine how the height of a horizontally launched projectile affects the projectiles range.
2.0 Theory:
Galileo showed an appreciation for the proper relationship between mathematics, theoretical physics, and experimental physics.
Galileo discovered that a parabola was the theoretically ideal trajectory of an accelerated projectile in the absence of friction and other disturbances. Galileo agreed that there are limits to the validity of this theory and noted that a projectile trajectory which was close to the size Earth could not be presented as a parabola but he believed that distances reached with the artillery used in his day would only have a slight impact to the parabolic representation.
Using Galileo’s theory on projectile motion, we can deduce that projectile motion is made up of two motions.
a) Horizontal component which is constant velocity
b) Vertical component which is constant acceleration.
In class, a computer simulator was used to answer questions and indicate any relationships between the change in certain variables and how that affected different results. Since the mass and angle of inclination were constant, there was no changes in data gathered that was effected by said variables.
Through the computerized simulations, the class had gathered that as the height of the apparatus changed the time of flight increased and so did the horizontal range.
This graph shows the parabolic relationship between the change in the initial height and how it affects the horizontal range.
The velocity of the ball as it leaves the apparatus can be calculated by the conservation of energy equation. Due to the metal balls spherical shape, rotational motion must also be taken into account so the equation changes.
3.0 Materials/Equipment:
Metal Ball Plastic tube
Tray of sand Ruler (30cm and 1m)
Writing utensils (pencils) Tape measure Sticky Tape
4.0