PASCO ME-9486 BALLISTIC CART ACCESSORY - Manual (Page 27)

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012-05460A Ballistic Cart Accessory
➤ NOTE: It is also possible to determine the speed using conservation of energy without a com-
puter. You would need to know the mass of the Ballistic Cart Accessory and measure the
distance the hanging mass falls.
➈ Hang the ball on the drop rod and measure the distance, y, from the bottom of the ball down to
the floor. See Figure 9.2.
➉ The vertical distance, y, that the ball falls is given by
y = 1
2
gt
2
Using your measured value for y, calculate the time it takes for the ball to fall.
t =
2y
g
11
Calculate the horizontal distance, x, that the ball travels.
x = vt
This is the position where the ball should land.
12
Use a plumb bob and meter stick to measure off the distance, x. Place a paper cup at this position
on the floor.
13
Hang the ball from the drop rod, pull the cart back against the end stop and release it from rest.
Observe whether or not the ball goes into the cup.
Questions
➀
Did the ball land in the cup? If not, why not?
➁ What are some of the possible sources of error in this experiment that would cause the ball to
miss?