PHY 111/211 Lab: Projectile Motion

Objective:

• Study motion in 2-Dimensions.
• Understand the parameters that determine range of an object.

Equipment:

• Large area, a tennis ball, meterstick, and a small target

Part 1: Observation

1. Place a target between 2 to 3 meters away from a starting position. A person standing from the starting position try to hit the target. You may have to do this multiple time before you are able to hit the target. (Make sure to mark the starting position.)
2. Draw the motion of the ball. (you may draw it on separate paper and insert an image).

1. Now place the target to between 3-4 meters from the starting position. Compare to the (1), what two things that you had to adjust for the ball to hit the new target?

1. Keeping the projectile at the same location as (3), now throw the ball such that the ball goes higher compare to (3) yet still be able to hit the target. What did you do in order to achieve this?

Part 2: Velocity of a cannonball

For the next two parts of this experiment you will be using the Phet interactive simulation. Visit the following website to get started: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/projectile-motion

1. Use intro tab to test your ideas about the things that affect the landing of a projectile.
2. Pick an initial height. Set the angle to 0.

Initial height:

1. Find the time and range of the cannon ball for different initial speed using the simulation.
2. Using the range, time and kinematic equations, calculatethe final speed of the cannonball in x- and y- direction. Fill the values in the table.

Initial Speed (m/s)	(m)	Time (s)
3
6
12
18
25

1. As you increased the speed, what happens to the time and displacement in x-direction.

Part 3: Angle Dependence

1. Set the height of the cannon to 0 m and initial speed to
2. Using the distance measuring tool, measure the distance from the cannon to where the object lands for different angles.
3. Calculate the initial velocities in the x any y directions using initial speed and angles. (this is different than finding final velocities)

Angle ()		Time (s)
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65

1. As you increase the angle, what happens to displacement?

1. At what angle is the displacement maximum?

1. For the angle at which the displacement is same, is the time also same? Why or why not?