Investigation#4:Initial Velocity of a Projectile - Lab Report Example

A projectile is any object that is cast, heaved, hurled and pitched or thrown from space or from the atmosphere. The path of a projectile is called its trajectory. An example of a projectile can be a moving airplane in the air with its engines and wings disabled. The force acting on the projectile is known as gravity the effects of other forces are minimal. Projectile usually has an initial non-zero horizontal velocity whose acceleration is due to gravity alone. An object can also ceased to a projectile once any real effect is made to change its trajectoryTotal time for which the projectile remains in the air is called Time of flight.

After the fight, Projectile returns to horizontal axis, so y=0The assumption here is that air is neglected in the projectile.Materials used1 ramp1 steel ball1 piece of carbon paper1 metric measuring stick1 plumb lineTapeProcedureRamp was position so that it launches the ball horizontally.The ball was rolled down the ramp and the impact point was noted.Using the plumb line, location was noted that is beneath the end of the ramp.A piece of carbon paper was placed over the white paper, carbon side down near the impact point.

The ball was rolled down the ramp.The carbon paper was removed and the initial impact point was noted on the white paper.Steps 6 and 7 were repeated for a total of 10 trials.The height of the base of the ramp was measured and recorded above the floor.The horizontal distance from the base of the ramp was measured to each impact point. dy change in dxCollected dataChange dy=75.5pointDistance(cm)138238.3338.5438.7539639.5737.8839.3937.51038.2CalculationsTime of flightChange in dy =1/2gt2-75.5=1/2(-9.81) t2T=3.9sAverage projectileV=change in dx /t 38.48/3.9=9.

9m/sDiscussionAccording to the results above the horizontal velocity was found to be 9.9m/s which remains constant until the object landed but the vertical velocity changed. That was maybe because of air resistance. Time taken for the flight was also found to be 3.9 seconds; this is the time the projectile was released up to the time it landed.Sources of errorsErrors due to incorrectly used mechanical devices, not calibrated correctly.Errors due to parallax, maybe when tape measure was being used the readings were not read correctly.

Errors doe to wind resistance or wind from unexpected sources, this can affect the movement of the projectile thus different result being obtained.ConclusionProjectile is a motion of an object whose path is affected by the force of gravity; this makes the object to accelerate causing a change in its vertical velocity but no change in horizontal velocity over a given time.