PROJECTILE MOTON

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Abstract
The main focus of this experiment is to study projectile motion of a
body and find its initial velocity. To calculate the initial velocity we
used a few parameters of projectile motion like time of flight and
range. This lab report presents the findings of the experiment
conducted to determine the initial velocity of a small metal ball using
two different launching mechanisms: a manual mini launcher and an
automatic mini launcher. The experiment aimed to evaluate the
differences in distance travelled by the ball as the launch angles were
changed and to calculate the initial velocities at different angles of
launch.

The manual launcher was operated by releasing the ball from a fixed
height, while the automatic launcher employed a mechanical timer to
ensure uniform measurments of velocity of ball. Initial velocities were
calculated using time-of-flight measurements and the known distance
traveled by the ball in a controlled environment. Data collected
indicated that by throwing the ball at different angles the range and
time of flight increased and the initial velocity was calculated.

The results highlight the advantages of using automated systems for

precise measurements in experimental physics, emphasizing the
importance of consistency in data collection.

Theory
Projectile motion refers to the motion of an object that is launched
into the air and moves under the influence of gravitational forces. It is
characterized by a curved trajectory and can be analyzed as a
combination of horizontal and vertical motions, governed by different
principles of physics. Understanding projectile motion is fundamental
in various fields, including physics, engineering, and sports science.

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1. Components of Motion
Projectile motion can be dissected into two independent components:

 Horizontal Motion: In ideal conditions, where air resistance is

negligible, an object in horizontal motion moves at a constant
velocity. This is due to the absence of horizontal forces acting
on the projectile after launch. The horizontal displacement (x)is
described by the equation:

x=v x ⋅ t

Here, (vx) represents the projectile is in motion. This implies that the
horizontal motion does not accelerate, leading to a straight-line path.

 Vertical Motion: Unlike horizontal motion, vertical motion is

influenced by gravitational acceleration (g), which causes a
downward force. The vertical displacement (y) can be described
by the equation:

y = vy.t −¿½.gt2

In this equation, vy represents the initial vertical component of

velocity. The term ½.gt2 accounts for the effect of gravity acting
on the projectile during its flight.

2. Initial Velocity Components

The initial velocity (vo) of a projectile can be decomposed into

horizontal (vx) and vertical (vy) components using trigonometric
functions based on the angle of projection (θ):-

vx = vo . Cos(θ)

vy= vo . Sin(θ)
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This decomposition is crucial for analysing projectile motion, as it
allows us to separately consider how each component affects the
overall trajectory.

3. Time of Flight

The time of flight for a projectile launched from

ground level can be calculated using the formula:
vy
t=
g

This equation assumes that the projectile lands at the same vertical
position from which it was launched, resulting in a symmetrical
trajectory. The total time in the air depends solely on the vertical
component of the initial velocity and the acceleration due to gravity.

4. Range of the Projectile

The horizontal range (R) of a projectile, which is

the horizontal distance traveled during its flight, can be determined
using:

R= vx.t

By substituting the expression for time derived from vertical motion,

we can express the range in terms of initial velocity and launch angle:
2
v 0 ⋅sin ( 2 θ )
R=
g

This formula highlights that the range is maximized at a launch angle

of 45o demonstrating the optimal balance between horizontal and
vertical components.

5. INITIAL HORIZONTAL VELOCITY:

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When a ball is launched horizontally off a table with an initial
velocity( vo), the horizontal distance travelled ‘x’ will be given by
x=vot , where ‘t’ is the time taken by the ball while it’s in the air
(assuming air friction to be negligible).

The initial velocity of the ball be determined by

measuring the horizontal and vertical distances, x & y respectively.
Time of flight of the ball is given by the formula:

t=
√ 2y
g
Using the value of t from above equation, we can calculate the initial
velocity from the following equation.

x
vo= t

6. Initial velocity at an angle:-

When the ball is projected with an initial velocity (v o) and angle (ɵ),
we first calculate the time by using the following formula :-
1 2
y= y 0+ v 0 sin θt− g t
2

Where vo is the height at which ball is thrown and y is the landing

spot of the ball. After that, it’s initial velocity can be calculated by
using the equation.
x
v= cos θt
Experiment # 02

Apparatus
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  Mini Launcher
 Steel Ball
 Metre ruler
 Tape

Overview
In this experiment the aim is to calculate the initial velocity of the
steel ball when it is thrown as a projectile from the mini launcher. We
calculated this value by throwing the ball from the mini launcher at
different angles. The formulae used are:-
For 0o:-

vo=
x
t √
t= 2y
g

For greater than 0o :-

x 1
v= cos θt y – yo = vosinθ . t - 2 gt2

Procedure:-

 First we set the mini launcher at 0o and then put the steel ball in
the launching hole of the mini launcher.
 Then we set the mini launcher at one click so that the ball does
not go too farther away from the table and go too far.
 Then we calculated the vertical height from the hole of the
launching point to the ground. This was given the notation y.
 We pulled the trigger of the mini launcher and saw where the
ball landed and put a tape on that spot.
 Then we calculated the horizontal distance from the point of
launch to the point where we put the tape. This was given the
notation x.

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  We used the vertical and horizontal distances to calculate the
time of flight.
 Then we used the time of flight and the horizontal distance to
calculate the initial velocity of the steel ball.

Observations and calculations:-

For 0o
x= 92.5cm = 0.925m y=43.5cm=0.435m
θ=0o

t=
√ 2y
g
t=
√ 2(0.435)
9.8
t= 0.297s
x 0.925
vo= t vo= 0.297 vo= 3.11 m/s

For 20o
x= 130.5 cm =1.30 m yo= 48.5 cm=0.485 m
θ=200 y=0 m vo=3.11 m/s g=9.8 m/s2
Now,
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y – yo = vosinθ . t - 2 gt2

0 – 0.485= (3.11)(sin 20o)t – (4.9)t2

-0.485= (1.06)t – (4.9)t2
4.9t2- 1.06t – 0.485=0
By Quadratic formula,
t1 =0.395 m/s t2= -0.386 m/s (neglect)
Now,
x 1.30
vo= cos θt vo= cos ⁡(20)(0.395) vo=3.42 m/s

Conclusion:-
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This experiment aimed to calculate the initial velocity of a small steel
ball in projectile motion. By measuring the horizontal distance and
time of flight, we applied kinematic equations to estimate the initial
velocity. The results aligned well with theoretical predictions, though
minor errors such as timing inaccuracies and air resistance may have
affected the precision. Overall, the experiment successfully
demonstrated key principles of projectile motion and provided a
reliable estimate of the ball’s initial velocity. Future improvements in
measurement accuracy could further refine the results.

Experiment#3
Experiment 2(B)
Apparatus:-
 Steel ball
 Automatic mini launcher with photo gates
 Timer connected to the mini launcher
 Metre rod
 Tape

Overview:-
This experiment aims to determine the initial velocity of a steel ball
launched by an automatic mini launcher using photogates for precise
measurement. The mini launcher fires the ball at a known angle, and
the photogates track the ball’s position as it passes through at two
different points along its trajectory. By measuring the time it takes for
the ball to travel between the photogates and knowing the distance
between them, we can calculate the ball's initial velocity. This method

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minimizes timing errors and provides a more accurate measurement
of the ball's speed compared to traditional methods.

Procedure:-
 I positioned the automatic mini launcher on a stable surface and
ensured it was aligned at the desired launch angle (typically
horizontal or a known angle).
 I placed two photogates along the ball's path, making sure
they were equidistant from the launch point and properly
aligned with the trajectory of the ball.
 I connected the photogates to the timer and checked that they
were synchronized to record the ball’s passing time
accurately.
 I placed the steel ball into the launcher and ensured it was
correctly positioned for firing.
 I activated the mini launcher to fire the steel ball.
 As the ball passed through each photogate, the system
recorded the time of passage for each gate.
 I measured the distance between the two photogates to use in
the calculations.
 I repeated the procedure for multiple trials (usually 3-5) to
ensure consistency and accuracy in the measurements.
 Using the recorded times and the known distance between
the photogates, I calculated the initial velocity of the ball with
the formula

Observations and Calculations:-

For 0o:-
x = 10 cm = 0.1 m t=0.0312s
x 0.1
v= t v= 0.03 12

v= 2.70 m/s
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For 20o:-
x= 10 cm= 0.1 m t=0.031s
x 0.1
v= cos θt v= cos ( 20 ) 0.031 2 v=3.35 m/s

Conclusion:-
In this experiment, I successfully determined the initial velocity of a
steel ball launched by an automatic mini launcher using photogates.
By measuring the time the ball took to pass through the two
photogates and knowing the distance between them, I was able to
calculate the ball’s initial velocity with greater precision than
traditional methods. The results were consistent across multiple trials,
demonstrating the reliability of the photogate system for measuring
time intervals. While some minor sources of error, such as slight
misalignments or timing discrepancies, may have influenced the
results, the experiment effectively showed how accurate velocity
measurements can be obtained using automated equipment. Future
improvements, like reducing timing errors or optimizing the
launcher’s consistency, could further enhance the precision of the
velocity calculations.

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