Physics Laboratory Report
Title (5 points)
Lab number and Title:Lab 111:
Projectile Motion
Name: Group ID:
Date of Experiment: 9/23/2021 Date of Report Submission: 9/30/2021
Course & Section Number:Physics 111A Instructor’s Name:
Partners’ Names:
1. INTRODUCTION (5 points)
1.1 OBJECTIVES
1.1.1 The objectives of this lab were mainly to study the motion of a
projectile and apply the kinematics equations for linear motion to
solve the problems given. Other objectives include predicting where a
target needs to be placed for the projectile to pass through it in
the air as well as calculate the range of the projectile if it is
initially shot at an angle.
1.2 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
1.2.1 The background of this experiment makes us look at the behaviors of
projectiles when undergoing two dimensional motion. Specifically, how
to calculate different values like displacement, initial velocity,
and range based on constant acceleration (gravity) and initial height
given by the experimental procedure of setting up a canon with a
steel ball at a distance away, shooting the metal ball by pulling on
a string that held it back and measuring the distance it traveled (it
landed on carbon paper to help with marking) as well as comparing
that distance with the theoretical distance we previously calculated
with the linear motion equations.
2 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE (5 points)
✔ Equipment: Mini Launcher attached to a base, steel ball (16mm diameter),
push rod, c-clamp, safety goggles, carbon and white paper, scotch tape,
ring target with one hold, tripod with right angle clamp to hold the ring
target, counter tray, plump bob, and a bubble level.
, ✔ Procedure: We begin by setting up the mini launcher by clamping it to the
table with the C-clamp. The inclination angle is then set by loosening the
screws and rotating the launcher to the desired angle. After, the steel
ball is loaded into the launcher with a pencil until a click is heard
which indicates that the trigger has caught the piston and it is primed to
shoot. The shortest length producing force is used. The steel ball is
released by pulling a string connected to the trigger. To test the
distance, the white and carbon paper are placed in the general vicinity of
the average distance the steel ball reaches once fired. The distance of
the ball is measured from the point in which the ball leaves the barrel.
3 RESULTS (30 points in total)
3.1 EXPERIMENTAL DATA (15 points)
✔ Table I
Trial 1 2 3 4 5 Average
Number
x 1.117m 1.104m 1.110m 1.108m 1.112m 1.1102m
y = 0.513m v0 = 3.427 m/s
✔ Table II
Target Height H Calculated D (cm) Measured D (cm) % Difference
(cm)
32.2cm 67.6cm 67.4cm 0.3%
23.5cm 81.6cm 81.4cm 0.2%
✔ Table IV (Height at 15° = 53.1cm)
Calculated D (cm)
143cm
✔
3.2 CALCULATION (15 points)
Title (5 points)
Lab number and Title:Lab 111:
Projectile Motion
Name: Group ID:
Date of Experiment: 9/23/2021 Date of Report Submission: 9/30/2021
Course & Section Number:Physics 111A Instructor’s Name:
Partners’ Names:
1. INTRODUCTION (5 points)
1.1 OBJECTIVES
1.1.1 The objectives of this lab were mainly to study the motion of a
projectile and apply the kinematics equations for linear motion to
solve the problems given. Other objectives include predicting where a
target needs to be placed for the projectile to pass through it in
the air as well as calculate the range of the projectile if it is
initially shot at an angle.
1.2 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
1.2.1 The background of this experiment makes us look at the behaviors of
projectiles when undergoing two dimensional motion. Specifically, how
to calculate different values like displacement, initial velocity,
and range based on constant acceleration (gravity) and initial height
given by the experimental procedure of setting up a canon with a
steel ball at a distance away, shooting the metal ball by pulling on
a string that held it back and measuring the distance it traveled (it
landed on carbon paper to help with marking) as well as comparing
that distance with the theoretical distance we previously calculated
with the linear motion equations.
2 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE (5 points)
✔ Equipment: Mini Launcher attached to a base, steel ball (16mm diameter),
push rod, c-clamp, safety goggles, carbon and white paper, scotch tape,
ring target with one hold, tripod with right angle clamp to hold the ring
target, counter tray, plump bob, and a bubble level.
, ✔ Procedure: We begin by setting up the mini launcher by clamping it to the
table with the C-clamp. The inclination angle is then set by loosening the
screws and rotating the launcher to the desired angle. After, the steel
ball is loaded into the launcher with a pencil until a click is heard
which indicates that the trigger has caught the piston and it is primed to
shoot. The shortest length producing force is used. The steel ball is
released by pulling a string connected to the trigger. To test the
distance, the white and carbon paper are placed in the general vicinity of
the average distance the steel ball reaches once fired. The distance of
the ball is measured from the point in which the ball leaves the barrel.
3 RESULTS (30 points in total)
3.1 EXPERIMENTAL DATA (15 points)
✔ Table I
Trial 1 2 3 4 5 Average
Number
x 1.117m 1.104m 1.110m 1.108m 1.112m 1.1102m
y = 0.513m v0 = 3.427 m/s
✔ Table II
Target Height H Calculated D (cm) Measured D (cm) % Difference
(cm)
32.2cm 67.6cm 67.4cm 0.3%
23.5cm 81.6cm 81.4cm 0.2%
✔ Table IV (Height at 15° = 53.1cm)
Calculated D (cm)
143cm
✔
3.2 CALCULATION (15 points)
