PASCO ME-6831 Ballistic Pendulum_Projectile Launcher - Manual (Page 33)

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Table 5.1
Alternate Method for Determining the Initial Speed of the Ball (using photogates)
1. Attach the photogate mounting bracket to the Launcher and attach two photogates to the bracket. Check that
the distance between the photogates is 0.10 m (10 cm).
2. Plug the photogates into an interface or a timer.
3. Adjust the angle of the Launcher to 90 degrees (straight up).
4. Put a plastic ball in the Projectile Launcher and use the ramrod to cock it at the medium range setting.
5. Setup the data acquisition software or the timer to measure the time between the ball blocking the two photo-
gates.
6. Shoot the ball three times and calculate the average of these times. Record the data in the Table 5.2.
7. Calculate the initial speed of the ball based on the 0.10 m distance between the photogates. Record the value.
Table 5.2
Trial Distance Trial Distance
1 6
2 7
3 8
4 9
5 10
Average
Total distance
Table 5.2: Initial Speed Using Photogates
Trial Time
1
2
3
Average Time
Initial Speed