When projectiles are released at an angle, their trajectory has unique horizontal and vertical behaviors. Vertically, gravity still pulls unilaterally and results in a uniform downward acceleration of -9.8 m/sec²; while horizontally, in the absence of air resistance, the projectile maintains a constant velocity.

 

In this experiment we are going to use a projectile launcher to vary the angle of release for a piece of wooden dowel. The launcher employs a compressed spring to provide the initial launch force and a protractor to measure the angle of release.

 

 

When you go outside, you will work in teams of four. One person will be responsible for launching the dowel. The next two team members will be responsible for observing the dowel's trajectory and marking its impact position. The final member will measure and record the dowel's range. The dowel will be launched three times at 5 different angles: 15º, 30º, 45º, 60º, and 75º and its subsequent range recorded.

Each team will be supplied with one c-clamp, one launcher, one dowel, one washer "on a string," and five meter sticks.

 

 

Before you can start changing the projectile's angle of release, you need to first calibrate the launcher. This is done by launching the dowel horizontally from the top of a table and measuring its range along with the table's height. With that data, you will be able to  calculate the launcher's "muzzle velocity." The magnitude of this velocity will remain constant throughout the rest of the experiment. Make sure that you ALWAYS compress the spring to the same slit on the PVC tube.

 

 

Now you will investigate the relationship between the angle of release and the dowel's range. For this phase of the experiment you will have a net vertical displacement of zero - that is, you will place the launcher on the ground not on the table. For each angle, measure and record the range for three trials.

 

angle

trial 1

trial 2

trial 3

average

 

 

 

In the final part of this experiment you will launch a dowel from the second floor catwalk. This time you will only launch at two angles - 30º and 45º. Once again, you will launch three trials for each angle.

 

angle

trial 1

trial 2

trial 3

average

 

After examining the diagram shown below, determine the required value for each question. Let the launch velocity, V, equal your value found in Part I. The black trajectory represents a 45º angle of launch; while the red trajectory represents a 30º angle of launch. You may use energy methods to find velocities and heights, but you must use kinematics to determine time and range. Show ALL of your calculations on your lab report.