Experiment # 4
Introduction:
Projectile Motion exists commonly in our everyday lives and is particularly evident in the motion or flight of objects which are projected from a particular height. The key to working with projectile motion is recognizing that when an object with mass is flying through the air, its motion is a combination of vertical and horizontal movements. Although the horizontal velocity of the object remains constant throughout the flight, it’s vertical velocity accelerates or decelerates due to gravity.
Purpose:
The purpose of this experiment is to be able to measure the velocity of a ball using two Photogates and computer software for timing, apply concepts from two-dimensional kinematics to predict the impact point of a ball in projectile motion and ability to understand trial-to-trial variations in the velocity measurement when calculating the impact point.
Materials:
Computer plumb bob
Vernier computer interface ramp
Logger Pro two ring stands
Two Vernier Photogates two right-angle clamps
Ball(1 to 5 cm diameter) meter stick or metric measuring tape
Masking tape target
Procedure:
1) Set up a low ramp made of angle molding on a table so that a ball can roll down the ramp, across a short section of table, and off the table edge. Position the Photogates so the ball rolls through each of the Photogates while rolling on the horizontal table surface and not on the ramp. 2) Mark a starting position on the ramp so that you can repeatedly roll the ball from the same place. Roll the ball down the ramp through each Photogate and off the table. Catch the ball as soon as it leaves the table. 3) Open the file “08 Projectile Motion”. A data table and two graphs are displayed; one graph will show the time required for the ball to pass through the