Analysis

In Physics, it is not only the Resolution Forces and Kinematics there are also
several areas that this course tackles, one of these several areas is what we call the
Projectile Motion. Projectile Motion is a special case of two-dimensional motion
and it is special because, while the projectile is airborne, the only external force
that is on it is due to gravity only. Projectile is the moving body that is involved in
this motion. An example of Projectile Motion is when you throw a rock vertically
and by throwing or launching the projectile, it neglects the air resistance making
the projectile paths be affected only by Earths gravity.
If you launch a projectile in a certain speed and angle, the path of the projectile
will be a parabolic curve and it is known as the trajectory. Once the projectile is
launched, only the gravity is the acting force that affects the motion of it. Assuming
that there is no or very little air resistance. If there will be another force that will
affect the motion of the object, therefore it would not be called as a projectile.
In this experiment, we are tasked to analyze the motion of the projectile.
Specifically, we should be able to determine and understand the variables that
affects the object, for example the launch angle, the initial speed of the projectile.
The equation for the one dimension motion is also valid for two dimension. In this
experiment, the main objective is to analyze the motion of the projectile and to
compare the ranges of projectiles launched at different angles. By understanding
the objective and doing the experiment successfully, you can determine the effects
of the variables (launch angle and initial speed) to the positions of the projectile
along the x-axis and y-axis. We are tasked not to hurt anyone in this experiment
since the ball is heavy, therefore, we are ordered not to aim the projectile launcher
to any person or any breakable object in its path and to make sure that the
launchers base is securely clamped to the iron stand.

According to newtons first law of motion, an object at rest will stay at rest and
an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and same direction unless
an unbalance force acts upon the object. For example, a ball fired in a horizontal
direction will have the same direction and constant velocity unless an external
force acts upon it.
The figure below further explains the newtons first law of motion.

* physics.tutorcircle.com
If we added Gravity in the motion of the object, it would affect the state of the
object and it will create a trajectory too, or a projectile motion. Since we know that
gravity pulls an object downward, an object that is launched in a straight line or in
an angle , will tend to go to the direction of the force, or downward.
To understand more what is discussed above, a figure below will be shown.

*http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/vectors/Lesson-2/What-is-a-Projectile

As we know, the trajectory made by the projectile is always a parabolic curve. If

we consider that the only active force in the object is gravity, there will come a
point that the highest height will be equal to 0 or will be equal to the initial
velocity. If this happens, the object will start to go down because the gravity will
pull the projectile down.
As discussed earlier, the kinematic equations in one-dimensional motion is also
applicable in two dimensions. These are the following equations.
(1)

v =v 0 +at

(2)

1 2
x=x 0+ v 0 t+ a t
2

(3)

v 2=v 02 +2 a( xx 0 )

*Equations for one-dimensional motion

The first equation is the velocity as a function of time, next is the position as a
function of time, and the last one is velocity as a function of time. From these
following equations, we can derive the equations for the two-dimensional motion
or the projectile motion. The formulas are shown in a tabulated view.
Equations for Projectile Motions
x-axis

y-axis

Acceleration

Velocity

v x =v o cos

v y =v y sin

Position

x=x o +v o cost

1
y= y o + v o sint + g t 2
2

a=9.8

m
2
s

In this experiment, we used certain kind of materials. These are, projectile

launcher, metal ball, meter stick, plumb line, and iron stand with clamp and target
board. We are also ordered to use bond paper and carbon paper so we can measure
and analyze the longest distance and the highest height that the projectile can
reach. The materials that are used are shown below;

Metal Ball

Projectile Launcher

Plumb Line

Meter Stick

Projectile Launchers Rod

Target Board w/
Iron Clamp

In the first part of the experiment, we are tasked to get the initial velocity of the
projectile. The figure below shows on how we executed the part 1 of the
experiment.

We set the angle of the projectile to 0 and we set the projectile launcher in a
flat surface and remove all the objects that can interfere with the projectile in
Horizontal Distance
Initial Velocity
2y
Vertical distance, y = 1m
time of travel, t= g =0.452 s

Trial
1
2
3
4
5

2.22m
2.19m
2.17m
2.275m
2.20m

4.911 m/s
4.84 m/s
4.80 m/s
5.033 m/s
4.867 m/s
Average = 4.8902 m/s
motion. First is we measured the vertical distance of the crosshair from the floor.
After doing all the precautionary measures, we launched the projectile and we got
the following results from this experiment.
Data Gathered in Experiment 1

For the second part of the experiment, we are tasked to determine the range of
the projectile. In first section of the experiment, we set the projectile launcher to be
at an angle of 30 . We first launch the
launcher to determine the longest point where
the projectile will reach and then put some
bond paper and carbon paper on the point so
that we can start to measure and determine the
longest point does the projectile goes for 30
. The second section is that we should set

the projectile launcher angle in 60 and follow the set of instructions as you do
in the first section of this part. We used the following formula in determining the
computed value for the range for both angles and then compare it with the
experimented value;
R=

v2o sin 2
g

Datas Gathered for Experiment 2

Average initial velocity, v =4.8902 m/s
Launch angle = 30

Launch angle = 60

Range = 2.113 m

Range = 2.113

Trial

Range

Percentage

Range

Difference

Percentage
Difference

2.294m

8.21

2.298m

8.3 %

2.276m

7.43

2.294m

8.2 %

2.280m

4.60

2.317m

9.2 %

2.278m

7.515

2.305m

8.7 %

2.301m

8.52

2.303m

8.6 %

For the last part of the experiment, we are tasked to measure the highest vertical
the projectile would reach. We did this for five trials but first, we put the projectile
launcher in an angle of 30 for the first section and then 60 for the next one.

We set the mouth of the projectile launcher to be equal height with the table to
lessen the percentage error of this last part of the experiment. In the first section,
we first fired the projectile and then determine the highest vertical point that it
would reach and then put the target board in it. After doing the five trials, we
measured the vertical distances and moved in the next angle given, 60 , and
both instructions given are followed. We are also required to determine the
computed value for the maximum vertical distance or y max , the formula is;
(v o sin)2
y max =
2g

The data gathered on the third part will be shown in tabulated view below.
Average initial velocity, v o =4.8902 m/s
Launched angle = 30

Launched angle = 60

Maximum vertical distance = 0.308m

Maximum Vertical Distance = 0.915m

Trial

Maximum

Percentage

Vertical Distance Difference

Maximum Vertical

Percentage

Distance (EV)

Difference

(EV)
1

0.35m

12.76%

0.986m

7.46%

0.355m

14.177%

0.997m

8.58%

0.354m

13.90%

0.998m

8.68%

0.35m

12.76%

8.88%

0.315m

2.24%

1.02

10.85%

Conclusion
After doing this experiment, I conclude that in doing experiments in Physics,
you should be extra careful in handling things and doing the experiment or else,
there would be a high chance in getting a high percentage error. I conclude that, the
formulas or equations in one-dimensional motion can be used to derive and get the
formulas for the two-dimensional motion. Projectile Motion is one of the special
case of two-dimensional motion. It is special because while the projectile is
airborne, the only external force that would act on it is the gravity, assuming that
the air resistance is being neglected.
The trajectory of the projectile motion if launched in an angle would always
be a parabolic curve, this is because the gravity will pull the object downward.
Based on our observations, the higher the angle, the higher vertical distance does
the projectile would have. For example, for the 30 , we got a lower values for
the third part of the experiment than for the angle of 60 . When the highest
vertical distance is reached, it would start to fall since gravity is now the only force
that is acting on it. Also, the initial velocity is the same for the velocity in the peak
of the projectile. The higher angle would also have a longer reach than the angles
below them since the mouth of the projectile launcher is more pointed upward.

Vertical and horizontal are independent of one another but the acceleration due to
gravity is constant regardless of what horizontal velocity an object has. As the
force of an object increases with a constant mass, the object acceleration increases,
therefore making the object faster. When the mass of an object increases but the
force of it stays the same, the acceleration decreases making the object slower.
Even if you increase both variable, the acceleration would still increase. Therefore,
the acceleration is always directly proportional to force and inversely to mass.