2.3ProjectileMotion Lab

Introduction

The motion of a projectile is governed by the force that launches the object and the gravitational influence on the object as it moves down range. In today's lab, you will launch a projectile and use its flight characteristics to measure the acceleration of gravity.Campus Students will be provided with the materials you need to complete the lab (meter sticks, projectiles, and launchers) and a method for recording and analyzing the motion. Online Students will access the PHET Projectile Motion simulation provided through this link.

Part 1:

Play around with various projectiles, angles of elevation and Initial speeds (if possible).

Simulations

Click on the Intro window. Be sure the Air Resistance box is unchecked. Check the velocity vectors boxes. Check the Acceleration Vectors box marked Components.

For one given angle and initial speed, what did you notice about the different projectiles?

Leave the cannon on the ground.

For one given initial speed, what angle produced the longest range?

For any setting, which velocity component changed throughout the trajectory?

Which direction did the acceleration vector point and why?

Part 2:

You will need to understand the following relationships to complete this successfully:

Range Horizontal Velocity = Time of flightVertical Velocit Gravity 2 height