PASCO ME-6815 PROJECTILE CATCHER ACCESSORY User Manual

Page 13

012-05091E

Projectile Catcher Accessory

Analysis

1. Calculate the average of the heights in Table 1.3. Record the result in Table 1.4. Using the

average height, calculate the velocity immediately after the collision and record it in Table
1.4.

2. Using the velocity calculated in the previous step and the masses, calculate the muzzle

velocity of the ball and record in Table 1.4.

3. Calculate the percent difference between the muzzle velocities found in Parts 1 and 2.

Record in Table 1.4.

Table 1.3: Ballistic

Pendulum Data

Mass of Ball = _____________.

Mass of Catcher = __________.

Height

Average Height

Velocity, v

Calculated Muzzle Velocity, v

Muzzle Velocity (Part 1)

% Difference

Table 1.4: Results

Questions

1. What percentage of the kinetic energy is lost in the collision? Use the masses and velocities

to calculate this percentage:

%Lost =

before

– KE

after

before

x 100%

2. How does the height to which the pendulum swings change if the ball is bounced off the

rubber bumper on the front of the catcher instead of being caught?

Try it, but be sure to move the catcher farther away from the Launcher so the steel ball
won’t rebound into the Launcher and damage the Launcher.