Projectile motion

Principle

A steel ball is fired by a spring at different velocities and at different angles to the horizontal. The relationships between the range, the height of projection, the angle of inclination and the firing velocity are determined.

Benefits

• Learn a classic method to determine a projectile's velocity
• See how to utilize conservation laws for finding "hard to get" quantities
• Immediate evaluation with the integrated velocity measurement
• Magnetic mount of the different projectiles
• Quick and easy set-up for universal and modular use
• Equipment also suitable for demonstration experiments

Tasks

1. To determine the range as a function of the angle of inclination.
2. To determine the maximum height of projection as a function of the angle of inclination.
3. To determine the (maximum) range as a function of the initial velocity.

Learning objectives

• Trajectory parabola
• Motion involving uniform acceleration
• Ballistics