Miami Dade College North Campus

PHY1025 w Calculus
Projectile Motion Investigation
We will use a computer Animation to study the properties of a Projectile:
Projectiles move along the horizontal and along the vertical at the same time. They will have
vertical and horizontal components of the velocities. The range of the projectile depends on the
initial velocity and the angle made with the horizontal.
I. Go online and go to the Animation Page by typing:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/legacy/college/halliday/0471320005/simulations6e/ind
ex.htm
II. Choose projectile motion from the animation menu.
Part A: Range versus the launch angle.
III. Set the initial velocity to 10 m/s and set the launch angle to 5. Complete the corresponding
row on the table:
IV. Change the angle by five and repeat step 3 until you reach 85.
Table 1: Investigating Projectile Motion.
Angle Range
Time
hmax
V0x
(m)
(s)
(m)
(m/s)
( )

V0y
(m/s)

Vfx
(m/s)

Vfy
(m/s)

ax

ay
2

(m/s2)
-9.8

1.77

0.16

0.04

9.96

-0.87

9.96

-1.49

(m/s )
0

10

3.49

0.34

0.15

9.85

-1.74

9.85

-3.03

-9.8

15

5.10

0.52

0.34

9.66

-2.59

9.66

-4.43

-9.8

20

6.56

0.68

0.60

9.40

-3.42

9.40

-4.71

-9.8

25

7.82

0.86

0.91

9.06

-4.23

9.06

-6.64

-9.8

30

8.84

1.02

1.28

8.66

-5.00

8.66

-7.5

-9.8

35

9.59

1.16

1.68

8.19

-5.74

8.19

-8.1

-9.8

40

10.05

1.30

2.11

7.66

-6.43

7.66

-8.61

-9.8

45

10.20

1.44

2.55

7.07

-7.07

7.07

-9.11

-9.8

50

10.05

1.56

2.99

6.43

-7.66

6.43

-9.42

-9.8

55

9.59

1.66

3.42

5.74

-8.19

5.74

-9.56

-9.8

60

8.84

1.76

3.83

5.00

-8.66

5.00

-9.75

-9.8

65

7.82

1.84

4.19

4.23

-9.06

4.23

-9.82

-9.8

70

6.56

1.90

4.51

3.42

-9.40

3.42

-9.8

-9.8

75

5.10

1.96

4.76

2.59

-9.66

2.59

-9.89

-9.8

80

3.49

2.00

4.95

1.74

-9.85

1.74

-9.91

-9.8

85

1.77

2.02

5.06

0.87

-9.96

0.87

-9.87

-9.8

By JC Catala

V.

Miami Dade College North Campus

PHY1025 w Calculus
Projectile Motion Investigation
Calculate the average acceleration along the horizontal and vertical axes.

VI. What do your results mean?

VII. How does the Range changes with the launch angles?
a.What is the launch angle that gives you the farthest range?
b. Find angles that would give you the same range?
c.What conditions do these angles meet?
Part B: Range versus initial speed.
VIII. Set the launch angle so that you get the maximum range possible. Change the initial speed
from 1m/s to 10 m/s. Complete the following table.
Table 2: Range vs. initial speed.
Vinital
1
2
3
4
(m/s)
Range 0.10
0.41
0.92
1.63
(m)

10

2.55

3.67

5.00

6.53

8.27

10.20

IX. Graph of Range vs. initial speed. Use Logger Pro to graph and determine the regression
equation that fits this dependence. Write the equation on the graph. Graph 2
X.

What conclusion can you reach? How does the range changes with the initial speed?

Part C: Horizontal and Vertical velocities as function of time.

XI. Choose seven different times by clicking step back and step forward keys. Complete the
following table.
Table 3: Velocities as function of time.
Trial
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Time (s)
0.08
0.36
0.40
0.78
1.06
1.24
1.32
Vx (m/s)

7.07

7.07

7.07

7.07

7.07

7.07

7.07

Vy (m/s)

6.29

3.74

3.13

-0.57

-3.32

-5.08

-5.86

XII. Graph of Horizontal velocity vs. time, using Logger Pro find the equation that best fits this
dependence. Write the equation on the graph. Graph 1
XIII. Graph of Vertical velocity vs. time. Use Logger Pro to find the equation that best fits this
dependence. Write the equation on the graph. Graph 1
XIV. Explains your results.

By JC Catala

Miami Dade College North Campus

PHY1025 w Calculus
Projectile Motion Investigation
Part D: Conclusions.
XV. Review all your results and describe the properties of Projectile Motion. Support your
conclusions.

By JC Catala

Miami Dade College North Campus

PHY1025 w Calculus
Projectile Motion Investigation

By JC Catala

Miami Dade College North Campus

PHY1025 w Calculus
Projectile Motion Investigation

By JC Catala