PASCO ME-6815 PROJECTILE CATCHER ACCESSORY - Manual (Page 21)

012-05091E Projectile Catcher Accessory
17
Setup
1. Clamp the Projectile Launcher to a sturdy table near one end of the table with the muzzle
pointed toward the table.
2. Place the dynamics track on the table with one end against the base of the launcher. Align
the track with the launcher by sighting through the launcher sites toward the far end of the
track. See Figure 3.3. The track must be aligned with the launcher so that the ball pushes
the cart straight down the track without derailing it.
3. Mount the Projectile Launcher in the lower two slots on its base. Adjust the angle of the
Projectile Launcher to zero degrees so that the ball will be shot off horizontally. Mount the
catcher on the cart. Place the cart on the track at the end nearest the Launcher with the
opening of the catcher facing the Launcher. Adjust the height of the Launcher so the ball
will be shot into the center of the catcher.
Procedure
Inelastic Collision:
1. Put the ball into the Projectile Launcher, and cock it to the long range position. Put the cart
on the track directly in front of the Launcher about 15 cm away from the muzzle.
2. Shoot the ball into the catcher and observe the resulting final speed of the cart.
Elastic Collision:
1. Lower the Launcher so the ball will hit the rubber bumper of the catcher on the cart.
2. Put the cart about 15 cm in front of the muzzle of the Launcher. This distance keeps the
ball from rebounding into the Launcher.
3. Shoot the ball at the cart and observe the resulting speed of the cart.
➤
NOTE: Since there is no easy way to find the rebound speed of the ball in the
elastic collision, this can only be a qualitative demonstration. Because the rubber
bumper doesn't provide a perfectly elastic collision, the speed of the cart after the
elastic collision will not be exactly twice the speed of the cart after the inelastic
collision.
CAUTION! DO NOT LOOK DOWN BARREL!
CAUTION! DO NOT LOOK DOWN BARREL!
CAUTION! DO NOT LOOK DOWN THE BARREL.
LONG RANGE MEDIUM RANGE SHORT RANGE
Position of Ball
Launch
SHORT RANGE PROJECTILE LAUNCHER ME-6800
Yellow Band in Window Indicates Range. 9 0
8 0
7 0 6 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 0
WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN IN USE.
Use 25 mm
balls ONLY!
launcher
ball catcher
mounted on
Dynamics Cart
Figure 3.3: Experiment Setup
dynamics track
table
base of launcher