Projectile Motion Project

Projectile Motion Project.

Purpose: You will construct a projectile propelling device (marble shooter). The device needs to be able to shoot a projectile (marble) from 10 different angle inclinations and 3 different initial speeds. The device needs to launch the marble to a distance range between 10 ft and 20 ft.

Step 1: Planning Stage

Plan the design of your projectile launcher.

Sketch a detailed drawing of your projectile launcher. Make sure that you label all the parts of the design clearly.

List all the materials that you will need for your device.

Write step-by-step assembly instructions of you device.

Scan and post your design on Ning.

Post your step-by-step assembly instructions on Ning.

Here is an example – You don’t have to use this design!!! This is just an example.

You will need
ü a protractor
ü a metre rule
ü a small sand pit
ü a means of measuring speed
ü safety spectacles
ü a compression spring
ü 1cm diameter plastic conduit with rubber bung to fit
ü marble and / or ball bearing to fit tube
ü drill and large nail /
/ Wear safety spectacles
The projectiles are likely to be smaller than the eye socket, and may not always be very well aimed!

Step 2: Building Stage

Build your device.

You need to take pictures/video of the different stages of building process.

Test your device to see if it works as required.

Step 3: Initial Testing Stage: Velocity Calculations

Set your marble launcher at 40o and launch your marble in turn at your three initial speed settings.

For each initial speed setting, launch the marble six times and measure the horizontal distance that the marble traveled and the time the marble was in the air. Record your measurements in the table provided and take the average of the measurements.

Use the motion equations to calculate the initial velocities.

Step 4: Main Testing Stage:

Launching from the ground:

Set your marble shooter at the 10 different angles provided in the table. Measure the horizontal distance that the marble traveled. Using the motion equations, calculate the time that the marble spent in the air and the maximum height the marble reached.

Launching from a height:

Step 5: The BBT (Big Bucket Test)

During the BBT you will be given a bucket to place at a specified distance from your marble launcher. You have ½ hour and three tries to shoot the marble in the bucket.

You can launch from the ground or from a height. Use your previous calculations to guide your initial settings.
Initial Testing Stage

Set your launcher at 40°. Run 6 trials measuring Dx and Dt. Do this for your three different initial velocities. Use the provided tables to gather your data, then calculate each initial velocity.

Velocity 1

Dx / Dt
1
2
3
4
5
6
Average

Initial Velocity 1: ______

Velocity 2

Dx / Dt
1
2
3
4
5
6
Average

Initial Velocity 2: ______

Velocity 3

Dx / Dt
1
2
3
4
5
6
Average

Initial Velocity 3: ______

Main Testing Stage

For Dy = 0, and v1 = ______

Measure / Calculate / Calculate
Dx / Dt / Max y value
10°
20°
30°
40°
45°
50°
60°
70°
80°
Horizontal / Vertical
a = 0 m/s2 / a = -9.8 m/s2
vxi = vi cos q / vyi = vi sin q
Dx = / Dy =
Dt = / Dt =

Calculations

For Dy = 0, and v2 = ______

Measure / Calculate / Calculate
Dx / Dt / Max y value
10°
20°
30°
40°
45°
50°
60°
70°
80°

Calculations