Virtual Lab: Projectile Motion

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Theory:

A projectile is an object that moves in two dimensions, in other words, it moves vertically
and horizontally at the same time. A special characteristic of a projectile is that its
motion in the vertical direction is independent of its motion in the horizontal direction.
If air resistance is small enough to be ignored, then the only force acting on a projectile
after launch, is the vertical force of gravity. Therefore, in the absence of air resistance,
the horizontal component of the projectile’s velocity does not change. In the vertical
direction, the force of gravity causes a constant downwards acceleration of 9.8 m/s2.
The projectile’s motion in the vertical direction can therefore be analyzed using
kinematic equations that are based on constant acceleration such as:
1
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0𝑦 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2 [𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1]
2
where:
y = change in height of the projectile (in meters)
y0 = initial height of the projectile (before it was launched)
voy = initial velocity of the projectile in the vertical direction
g = acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s2). We put a negative sign in front of g to indicate
that we have chosen upwards as the positive direction, and g is directed downwards.
t = time in seconds since the launch of the projectile

Projectile motion is seen when you throw a ball across to someone, when you hit a
baseball or a tennis ball, when water emerges out of a fountain and so on.
If a projectile is launched at an angle, we can use trigonometry to find its starting
velocities in the horizontal and vertical directions. The figure below explains how.
 Maximum height

v0
v0sin
 Parabolic trajectory
Launcher v0cos

Initial height
Range

Fig 1. Velocity components and the trajectory of a projectile

Fig. 1 shows a red ball being launched with an initial or starting velocity of v0 meters per
second at an angle of  measured from the horizontal. This initial velocity can be broken
down using trigonometry into its horizontal component (v0cos ) and its vertical
component (v0sin). After finding the vertical and horizontal components, different
kinematic equations can used to accurately predict the projectile’s path or trajectory.

If air resistance is small enough to be ignored (generally the case for a small, heavy
ball), then the velocity in the horizontal direction does not change and it is calculated
using the equation:
Horizontal velocity = v0x = v0cos [Equation 2].

Since the horizontal velocity is constant, we can write another useful equation involving
velocity, distance traveled in the given direction (which is the displacement), and time:

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑣0 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = [𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 3]
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

On the other hand, for motion in the vertical direction, we can derive a useful equation
by rearranging equation [1] and substituting v0y = v0sin (from Fig. 1) to get:
 1 2
−ℎ = (𝑣0 sinθ)𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 [𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 4]
2

Here the “-h” is the change in height of the projectile (the height of the floor, which is
zero meters, minus the initial height, which is h meters).

Let us look at an example to see how these equations come in handy:

Example 1: A projectile is fired at an angle of 0 with an initial velocity of 3 m/s. It is
launched from a height of 1 meter above the floor. How far will it travel?
Solution:
We are given the following information:
 = 0
v0 = 3 m/s
h=1m

We are asked to find the distance traveled (or the range) in meters.

We could use equation [3] to find the range, but we do not know the time the projectile
takes to hit the floor.
Therefore, we will first have to find the time using equation [4] and then use that time in
equation 3. The time the projectile takes to travel the vertical distance to the floor is the
same as it takes to travel the horizontal distance before hitting the floor.

Equation 4 is:

1 2
−ℎ = (𝑣0 sinθ)𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 [𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 4]
2

substituting the given values and using g = 9.8 m/s2, we get:

-1 = (3)(sin0)t – ½(9.8)(t2)

The sine of 0 is 0, therefore the whole sin term goes away, leaving us with:

-1 = - ½(9.8)(t2)
Rearranging this to get t2 on one side we get:

t2 = 2/9.8
Taking the square root on both sides we get:
t = sq.root(0.2041)
t = 0.45 seconds.
Now that we have the time, we can substitute it into equation [3] to find the distance:

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑣0 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = [𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 3]
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

Substituting values we get:

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
(3)(𝑐𝑜𝑠0) =
0.45

The cosine of 0 is 1. Therefore we get:

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
3=
0.45

which gives us:

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = (3)(0.45)

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 1.35 𝑚

The projectile will travel a distance of 1.35 meters in the horizontal direction before it
hits the floor.
We could also say that the range of the projectile is 1.35 meters.

Videos:
Please watch these short videos for a review:
https://mediaplayer.pearsoncmg.com/assets/free_fall
https://mediaplayer.pearsoncmg.com/assets/velocity_projectile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiiWsXtt5GE

Purpose:
To investigate how the angle of launch and air resistance affect the motion of a
projectile.

Lab Procedure:
Part 1: Changing the angle, in the absence of air resistance

In this experiment, we will see how the angle of launch affects the distance traveled by
a projectile.
 1. We will use the free simulations provided by the University of Colorado, Boulder.
You will need Adobe Flash Player and Java installed on your computer.
2. Open the “Projectile Motion” simulation by Ctrl+ clicking on the link below or copy-
pasting it into your browser:

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/projectile-motion/projectile-motion_en.html

Adjust the simulation settings to the values listed in Table 1 below. Click on “Fire” to run
the simulation and record the Range, Height and Time in the last three columns of
Table 1. The first two rows have been completed as examples.

Table 1

No. Projectile Angle Initial Mass Diameter Air Range Height Time
type (degrees) speed (kg) (m) resistance (m) (m) (s)
(m/s)
1 Baseball 0 18 0.145 0.074 None 8.9 -1.2 0.5
2 Baseball 10 18 0.145 0.074 None 16.1 -1.2 0.9
3 Baseball 20 18 0.145 0.074 None
4 Baseball 30 18 0.145 0.074 None
5 Baseball 40 18 0.145 0.074 None
6 Baseball 45 18 0.145 0.074 None
7 Baseball 50 18 0.145 0.074 None
8 Baseball 60 18 0.145 0.074 None
9 Baseball 70 18 0.145 0.074 None
10 Baseball 80 18 0.145 0.074 None
11 Baseball 90 18 0.145 0.074 None
 Part 2: Changing the diameter of the ball, in the presence of air resistance and at
a constant angle of 45.

Please use the animation settings listed in Table 2.

Use the same settings as in Table 1 for Projectile type (baseball), initial speed (18 m/s)
and mass (0.145 kg). Add “Air Resistance” and change the diameter of the baseball to
the different values listed. Run the simulations and record your measurements in the
last three columns.
The first two rows have been completed as examples.

Table 2

No. Projectile Angle Diameter Air Drag Altitude Range Height Time
type (degrees) (m) resistance coefficient (m) (m) (m) (s)
1 Baseball 45 0.05 Yes 0.4 0 30.8 -1.2 2.6
2 Baseball 45 0.06 Yes 0.4 0 29.5 -1.2 2.6
3 Baseball 45 0.07 Yes 0.4 0
4 Baseball 45 0.08 Yes 0.4 0
5 Baseball 45 0.09 Yes 0.4 0
6 Baseball 45 0.1 Yes 0.4 0
7 Baseball 45 0.11 Yes 0.4 0
8 Baseball 45 0.12 Yes 0.4 0
9 Baseball 45 0.13 Yes 0.4 0
10 Baseball 45 0.14 Yes 0.4 0
11 Baseball 45 0.15 Yes 0.4 0
Questions:
Please select (highlight in a different color, but one that allows the underlying text to be
visible) the best answer from the choices provided:

1. From the experiment in Table 1 we can see that the projectile:

a) had the largest range when the angle was 90.
b) traveled exactly 100 meters when the angle was 20.
c) had the smallest range when the angle was 45.
d) traveled the farthest from the canon when the angle was 45

2. From the experiment in Table 1 we can see that

a) the time the projectile stayed in the air decreased as the angle increased from 0 to
90
b) the time the projectile stayed in the air increased as the angle increased from 0 to
90.
c) the time the projectile stayed in the air did not change as the angle increased from 0
to 90.
d) the time the projectile stayed in the air increased as the angle was changed from 0
to 45 and then gradually decreased again from 45 to 90.

3. From the experiment in Table 2 we can see that

a) as the diameter of the ball increased, the range of the projectile increased sometimes
but also decreased sometimes, without any definite pattern.
b) as the diameter of the ball increased, the range of the projectile increased.
c) as the diameter of the ball increased, the range of the projectile did not change.
d) as the diameter of the ball increased, the range of the projectile decreased.

4. From the experiment in Table 2 we can see that

a) air resistance does not affect the motion of the ball, the increased diameter of the ball
caused it to accelerate in the upward direction.
b) air resistance exerts a force on the ball causing it to speed up and travel a longer
distance.
c) air resistance exerts a force on the ball causing it to slow down and travel a shorter
distance
d) air resistance does not affect the motion of the ball, the increased diameter of the ball
makes it an easier target for gravity to pull down.
5. If we fire an “Adult human” and a “Piano” from the canon, with the same initial speed,
at the same angle and in the absence of air resistance, then we can see that (play the
simulation to find out and select the correct answer from below):
a) the piano does not fit into the canon at all.
b) the piano crashes much closer to the canon than the human does.
c) the piano lands further away from the canon than the human does.
d) the human and the piano have the same range.

6a. Please follow Example 1 in the “Theory” section of this document and solve the
following problem. Please show all your steps.
Problem: A projectile is fired at an angle of 0 with an initial velocity of 4.2 m/s. It is
launched from a height of 1.2 meters above the floor. How far will it travel?

Answer:

6b. Now check to see if your calculations are correct.

Enter the following values into the simulation, click “Fire” and see if your measured
range matches your calculated value:

Input to simulation:
Projectile type: baseball
Angle = 0
Initial speed = 4.2 m/s
Mass = 0.145 kg
Diameter = 0.074 m
Air resistance = No
The default height is 1.2 meter.

Answer:
Measured range from simulation = _________ meters.

6c. Is the calculated range for the projectile approximately the same as the measured
range?

Answer:
Please enter the names of all group members at the top of this document.
Each member of the group is required to submit a copy of the lab report through their
eCampus account.