Projectiles Optimal Angle Cliff Launch
Project #2623 on iSENSEProject.org
Exploring the Optimal Angle to Maximize Distance of a Projectile Launched from Above or Below a Level Surface..
QUESTION:
Does the angle that produces the farthest shot when launched from the same height as the height at which the projectile lands produce the farthest shot when launched from above or below the landing surface?
THE LAB:
During this lab, you will collect data that will help you to determine whether your hypothesis from yesterday’s lab applies to objects launched from above a level surface. If there is time, you will be able to launch your projectile from below the landing surface.
To explore the question, you will need:
1 marble launcher with adjustable angle muzzle and protractor
1 ball bearing
Masking tape
1 table
1 meter stick
Goggles for each member of each lab group
Directions:
SAFETY: Goggles MUST be worn at all times. Anyone not wearing goggles will receive no credit for the lab. NEVER point the launcher, loaded or un-loaded, towards anyone, towards a window, or towards yourself. Keep your mouths shut--a flying or bouncing ball bearing against a tooth equals a broken tooth and lots of fun at the dentist's office. Do not pull the spring beyond the second notch unless you are told to do so. Anyone pulling past the second notch will receive no credit for the lab.
Procedure:
Assemble the launcher. Place the launcher on a lab table, and point it to a place in the room where the ball bearings can travel down a row between tables. Measure the height of the muzzle of the launcher above the floor.
Set the launcher to 45 degrees.
Place a ball bearing in the muzzle.
Cock the launcher to the second notch--the one that gives the second-least tension on the spring.
Wearing goggles at all times, fire the ball bearing upward over the floor and place a piece of masking tape where the ball-bearing lands. Repeat 9 times for 45 degrees. Measure the horizontal distance from the muzzle of the launcher to the pieces of masking tape and record.
DIVISION OF LABOR: One group member runs the gun. A second group member watches where the ball bearings land and marks the spot of each impact with masking tape. A third group member captures the ball bearings after they have landed--or 'fields' the bounding balls. When all shots for a given angle have been fired, the gun operator measures with the meter stick; the 'fielder' records the data on the data sheet, and the spotter and tape person removes each piece of tape once the measure has been made and recorded.
Repeat procedure for 0, 10, 20, 30, 60, 70, and 80 degrees.
Record all values on the data sheet and take the average of the 10 shots for each angle.
When done, enter your data manually to iSENSE when instructed.
Visualize with angle on the horizontal axis and see if you can determine a pattern. Be prepared to discuss the results when you can see how other groups did for data.
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Angle (deg) |
Trial1 (cm) |
Trial2 (cm) |
Trial3 (cm) |
Trial4 (cm) |
Trial5 (cm) |
Trial6 (cm) |
Trial7 (cm) |
Trial8 (cm) |
Trial9 (cm) |
Trial10 (cm) |
Average (cm) |
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80 |
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70 |
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60 |
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45 |
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30 |
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20 |
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10 |
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0 |
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Questions:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1) <!--[endif]--> As you go from 80 degrees to 10 degrees, what happens to how far the balls go?
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2) <!--[endif]-->What seems to be the angle(s) that produce(s) the greatest distance?
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3) <!--[endif]-->Does today’s angle match yesterday’s optimal angle?
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4) <!--[endif]-->Can you account for the angle(s) being the most optimal?
<!--[if !supportLists]-->5) <!--[endif]-->What would be the result if you fired the ball bearing with more force—would the discrepancy of optimal angle from yesterday’s optimal be greater or smaller?
Were there any difficulties with obtaining or making sense of the data? Consider the consistency of how hard the gun fired, seeing where the ball bearings landed, and making the measurements with the meter sticks.
Do you have a hypothesis to suggest? If you had the time, how would you test the hypothesis and why?
| Name | Units | Type of Data |
|---|---|---|
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Angle
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Degrees (0-90)
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Number
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Distance of Ball Bearing
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cm
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Number
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| Angle | Distance of Ball Bearing |