Determination of Initial Velocity, Range, and Trajectory using the

Concept of Projectile Motion

G.L.G. Almazan*, T.G.G. Cabanizas, C.J. Rosal, R.K.C. Suratos
Department of Physical Sciences, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City
*Corresponding author: louiegem_almazan@yahoo.com

Abstract
The experiment intends to verify the concepts of projectile motion through
determining the initial velocity of the launcher, the range at different angles, and
the trajectory of the projectile. The initial velocity was determined by setting the
launcher horizontally at a height then measured the distance travelled by the
projectile and finally deriving the initial velocity from the collected data. The
range was measured by positioning the launcher such that the initial and
positions with respect to the y-axis are equal. The trajectory was determined by
launching the projectile against a wall at increasing the distance between the
wall and the launcher. The velocity was found to be 295 cm/s. Complementary
angles were found to have equal ranges and the maximum range is achieved
when the angle is about 450. The trajectory was found to be parabolic in shape.

Keywords: projectile motion, trajectory, range

1. Introduction
Projectile motion is the two-dimensional motion of an object, considered as point particle, affected only by
gravitational acceleration which is assumed to have a constant magnitude g = 9.8m/s [1]. Neglecting the air
2

resistance, there is a constant velocity along the horizontal plane and a constant acceleration along the vertical plane.
These are proved to be independent through analyzing the horizontal and vertical axes into separate components;
then kinematic equations are applied.
In the horizontal projection, the velocity remains constant but no acceleration is present in which horizontal
displacement is given by x = v t where v = vcos (Eq. 1). While, vertical motion experiences downward
xo xo

acceleration but v = 0 resulting to working equation y = y + v t + at (Eq. 2) where v = vsin and v = v + 2a(y -
y 0 0
2
0
2
0
2

y ) (Eq. 3) which can also be expressed in terms of x. The range formula was derived from Eq. 1 and Eq. 2 and is
0

shown below:
= /2/ (Eq. 4)

This experiment aims to verify the principle of projectile motion experimentally and analytically focusing
on the variables: initial velocity, range at different angles, and trajectory.
2. Methodology
The initial velocity, range and trajectory of a projectile was determined using a launcher (PASCO ME-

6825) and a 16 mm steel ball as the projectile. The point of impact of the steel ball was marked by taping a piece of
clean paper topped with carbon paper on the predicted area of landing. The marks produced from the impact of the
metal ball were then measured by a meter stick. The three aforementioned quantities were separated into different
cases with different set-ups. The minimum ranged was used for all the cases during the loading of the projectile by
pushing back the ball until one click was heard from the launcher.
The initial velocity was determined by setting up the projectile gun at which the angle was 0 and setting
O

the height at which the projectile gun fired at 87 cm. The steel ball was fired five times and each time the horizontal
distance of the impact point from launcher was measured, recorded, and averaged. The averaged horizontal distance
was then used to determine the initial velocity using Eq. 4. The following figure represents the set-up done for
determining initial velocity:
 Physics 31.1 Manual
Figure 1. Set-up for the determination of the initial velocity
The range was then determined by measuring the distance between of the point of impact and the launcher
when the ball is fired at angles 200, 300, 450, 600, 700. For each angle, five trials were measured, recorded, and
averaged. Figure 2 represents the set-up made for determining the range at an angle and is shown below:

Physics 31.1 Manual

Figure 2. Set-up for determining the range

The trajectory was determined by launching the ball at a wall in a series of distances. The launcher was
inclined by 300 and was first fired at 20 cm from the wall and the height of the point of impact in relation to the
height of the launcher was measured and recorded. The distance from the wall was increased by 10 cm and fired at
each adjustment until the launcher was 60 cm from the wall. The distance of the launcher from the wall was
increased by 15 cm and fired. The height of the point of impact of the projectile was measured in relation to to the
height of the launcher and was recorded. From the data points gathered, a parabolic curve was constructed
illustrating the trajectory of the projectile. Figure 3 is an illustration of the set-up done for determining the trajectory:
Physics 31.1 Manual

Figure 3. Set-up for determining the trajectory

3. Results and Discussion
Shown in Table 1 below are the findings of the range of the projectile (in cm), the initial height of the
projectile, and the computed initial velocity of the projectile.

Table 1. The range of the projectile and the computed initial velocity of the projectile
Range of projectile, R (cm) Height, yo Initial velocity, v0
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Average (cm) (cm/s)
126 123 124 124 124.5 124.3 87 295

Once the ball leaves the launcher, gravitational pull (9.8 m/s ) is equal to its acceleration. Furthermore, the
2

vertical velocity is increasing while the horizontal velocity however, remains constant. This is because the horizontal
component is not affected by gravity since no gravitational force is acting on it. The horizontal and vertical motions
are completely independent of each other [2]. The trajectory shown using the values in Table 1 is the summation of
the sum of the balls vertical and horizontal motion at each point of its path.

Table 2. The range of projectile at different angles of release

Range of projectile (cm)
Angle (0)
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Average
20 52.5 53.8 53 51 52.5 52.56
 30 71 70 69.5 71 69 70.1
45 83.5 83 83 82.5 83.5 83.1
60 71 71.5 72.25 72 71 71.55
70 51.5 51.5 51.5 51.5 51.5 51.4

At different angles of the projectile, the motion is still the same except that there is now an initial vertical
component of velocity, v . Due to the downward acceleration of gravity, the vertical component of velocity
yo

v gradually decreases with time until the object reaches the highest point on its path, at which point v = 0 [1].
y y

Complementary angles (300 and 600, 150 and 750) of the initial angle result in the same values in terms of range.
Furthermore, in Table 2, it is also evident that the range of the ball is greatest at an angle of 45. This is because the
ball remains in the air for a shorter time and air drag is negligible. If air resistance is negligible, such projectile will
reach its maximum height in the same time it takes to fall to its initial launch. According to Hewitt (2006), the
deceleration of gravity is the same as its acceleration by gravity when going down. Therefore the speed it loses upon
reaching its y is the same as the speed gained when going down.
max

Table 3. Trajectory of projectile inclined at 300

Trial xo (cm) yo (cm) y (cm)
1 20 64.5
2 30 67
3 40 68
56
4 50 66.5
5 60 64
6 75 56

80
70
60
height y (m)

50
40
30
20
10
y = -0.0097x2 + 0.7705x + 52.594
0
0 20 40 60 80
distance x (m)

Figure 4. The Trajectory of the Projectile (steel ball)

In describing the motion of the projectile, it is parabolic (as shown on figure 4), because the vertical
position of the object is only influenced by a constant acceleration and because horizontal velocity is generally
constant. The position of the object at any time t along the vertical direction is given by from Eq. 2:
y = y + Vt + at o y y
2

Where y = 0, V = Vsin, a = -g
o y y

y = Vsint - gt 2

Putting the value of t from equation 1

y = Vsin(xVcos)- g(xVcos) 2

y=xtan - (g2V )2 2cos2

This is an equation of a parabola; hence the path of a projectile is parabolic in nature. The equation is given
by y = -0.0097x + 0.7705x + 52.594.
2

For the error analysis, one possible source of error in this experiment is the non-negligence of air
resistance. Air resistance is a force that is acting upon an object in the opposite direction to its instantaneous
direction of motion, and whose magnitude is directly proportional to its instantaneous speed. This can have a
significant effect when the time of the trajectory of an object lasts long. According to a study, when projectile is
small and its speed of projection not too large, the air resistance can be modelled as a force opposing the motion and
proportional to the velocity of the projectile [4].

Additionally, the standard deviation and relative standard deviation of the data from table 1 was also
computed for the error analysis. The computed standard deviation for the data in Table 1 is 1.095445 which means
that the values are precise. While the RSD is 0.88% which means that the results are within the 5% rule of
acceptability therefore the data are considered acceptable. {dagdagan ng statistical treatment for table 2}

4. Conclusion
To summarize, the initial velocity of a projectile can be computed given the range, height, and the
acceleration due to gravity. The computed initial velocity in this experiment is 295 cm/s. For complementary angles,
projectiles achieve the same range. The range was also greatest at the angle of 45. Finally, the trajectory of the
projectile motion is described to be parabolic because of constant vertical acceleration and constant horizontal
velocity. In conclusion, the objectives of the experiment, which were to verify analytically and experimentally the
principles of projectile motion, were met through the calculations and determinations of the range, initial velocity,
and trajectory.
References
1. Giancolli, D. (2014). Physics: Principles with Applications. Pearson Education Inc.:USA
2. Serway, R. & Vuille, C. (2012). College Physics. Brooks/Cole: Boston, MA.
3. Hewitt, P. (2006). Conceptual Physics. Pearson Education Inc.: San Francisco, USA
4. Atkin, R.J., Collins, W.D., Math, C., and Rawlins, P.E. (1993). Teaching Mathematics and its Applications. An
International Journal of the IMA 12(2), pp.78 - 82. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1093/teamat/12.2.78 Access
date September 26, 2017
5. Galarion, W., Casuga, C., Difuntorum, R. (2016). Physics 31.1 Manual: a compilation f laboratory protocols and
worksheets of general Physics laboratory 1 experiments. Retrieved on August 9, 2017 from https://dl-
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