PASCO ME-6825A MINI LAUNCHER - Manual (Page 21)

012-05479B Mini Launcher
19
®
Experiment 4: Projectile Path
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
– Mini Launcher and steel ball – Measuring tape or meter stick
– Carbon paper – White paper
– Movable vertical target board (Must reach from floor to muzzle)
– Graph paper
Purpose
The purpose of this experiment is to find how the vertical distance the ball drops is related to the horizon-
tal distance the ball travels when launched horizontally from a table.
Theory
The range is the horizontal distance, x, between the muzzle of the Launcher and the place where the ball
hits, given by x = v
0
t, where v
0
is the initial speed of the ball as it leaves the muzzle and t is the time of
flight.
If the ball is shot horizontally, the time of flight of the ball will be
t = x
v
0
The vertical distance, y, that the ball falls in time t is given by
y = 1
2
gt
2
where g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Substituting for t into the equation for y gives
y =
g
2v
0
2
x 2
A plot of y versus x 2 will give a straight line with a slope equal to
g
2v
0
2
.
Setup
➀
Clamp the Mini Launcher near
one end of a sturdy table with
the Launcher aimed away from
the table.
➁
Adjust the angle of the Mini
Launcher to zero degrees so the
ball will be launched horizon-
tally.
➂
Fire a test shot on the long
range setting to determine the
initial position of the vertical
target. Place the target so the
ball hits it near the bottom. See
Figure 4.1.
➃
Cover the target board with
white paper. Tape carbon paper
90
80
70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40
MINI LAUNCHER ME-6825
CAUTION!
WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN IN USE.
DON'T PUSH PISTON WITH FINGER!
y
x
Figure 4.1: Setup