PASCO ME-6825A MINI LAUNCHER - Manual (Page 27)

012-05479B Mini Launcher
25
®
ALTERNATE METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE INITIAL VELOCITY OF THE BALL (US-
ING PHOTOGATES)
➀
Attach the photogate bracket to the Launcher and attach two photogates to the bracket.
Plug the photogates into a computer or other timer.
➁
Adjust the angle of the Mini Launcher to 90 degrees (straight up).
➂
Put the steel ball into the Mini Launcher and cock it to the chosen range.
➃
Run the timing program and set it to measure the time between the ball blocking the two
photogates.
➄
Shoot the ball three times and take the average of these times. Record in Table 5.2.
➅
The distance between the photogates is 10 cm. Calculate the initial speed of the ball and
record it in Table 5.2.
Table 5.2 Initial Speed Using Photogates
MEASURING THE HEIGHT
➀
Adjust the angle of the Launcher to 90 degrees (straight up).
➁
Shoot the ball on the chosen range setting several times and measure the maximum height
attained by the ball. Record in Table 5.3.
➂
Determine the mass of the ball and record in Table 5.3.
Analysis
➀
Calculate the initial kinetic energy and record in Table 5.3.
➁
Calculate the final potential energy and record in Table 5.3.
➂
Calculate the percent difference between the initial and final energies and record in Table
5.3.
TRIAL NUMBER TIME
1
2
3
AVERAGE TIME
INITIAL SPEED