Accuracy of Blackwood Pendulum to exhibit projectile motion

via the Chi Square Test

Matthew Steven Dinglasan,* Viron Gil Estrada, and Meara Noelle Tolentino
National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines
*
Corresponding author: mtolentino@nip.upd.edu.ph

Abstract
We have measured the range of the steel ball when fired horizontally and from an angle of 30o . The
outliers were removed using Chauvnet’s criterion. For both cases, chi square goodness of test was
used to determine their respective p values. The obtained p-values for both cases were less than the
significant value of 0.05 which means that the distribution is Gaussian. The initial velocity of the
steel ball was calculated to be 4.77 m
s
. This was used to calculate the theoretical range of the steel
ball that was fired from an angle of 30o . The calculated range is 2.88m with a 15% error from the
experimental value of 2.45m. Possible sources of error may be due to the horizontal acceleration not
being considered.
Keywords: Chauvnet’s criterion, chi square, p-value, Gaussian

1 Introduction
Conservation of momentum is a fundamental principle similar to the conservation of energy and it can
be used to analyze collisions, for instance. This conservation can be expressed by the equation [1, 2]:

m1 v1 = m2 v2 (1)
The ballistic pendulum is a an example of a dissipative collision in which conservation of momentum
can be used for analysis, but conservation of energy during the collision cannot be invoked because the
energy goes into inaccessible forms such as internal energy [3]. After the collision, conservation of energy
can be used. The ballistic pendulum is also used to show projectile motion by obtaining values such
as the projectile range or horizontal displacement, all of which are solved from the experiment and by
utilizing our knowledge on collisions, the conservation of energy and momentum, and kinematics.
In our paper, we used the Blackwood ballistic pendulum which is a combination of both a ballistic
pendulum and a spring gun that can be used to propel the projectile [4] to show projectile motion. It
was mentioned that the use of this type of pendulum as an experiment for the conservation of linear
momentum is perpetuated because of the design of the equipment which tends to give a rather small
discrepancy in the calculated results [5]. This can be clarified by the use the Chi square test from our
results to see the accuracy of this type of experimental setup.

2 Methodology
In the experiment, we used a blackwood ballistic pendulum and a spring gun to propel the projectile. For
the first part of the experiment, the launcher was positioned at a table top height and fired horizontally.
The vertical distance of the fall was measured. The ball was then launched and the range was measured
for about 40 trials. To measure the range, we laid out a clean paper with a carbon paper on top of it to
mark the landing point of the ball. The papers were tapes to the floor. The setup is shown in figure 3.
After all the measurements were done, we analyzed the collected data. We used Chauvnet’s criterion
to test the data for outliers. We also used Chi-square test for the goodness of fit and determine if
the initial assumption that the measurements (range) are governed by a Gauss distribution. Lastly, we
determined the initial speed of the ball.
For the next part of the experiment, we mounted the launcher on a 30o inclined plane and placed
the system (inclined plane and launcher) at a table top height. We measured the vertical distance of
the fall. Using the initial speed of the ball (from the first part) and the vertical distance of fall, we
calculated the range of the ball if launched at an angle of 30 degrees from the horizontal. We launched
the ball and measure the range for at least 40 trials. The same procedure as in part one, was done to
measure the range. We analyzed the collected data using the same methods mentioned in part one, with

Physics 192
2nd Semester A.Y. 2018 - 2019
National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
1
an assumption of a normal distribution. We compared the calculated value of the range and experimental
value of the range. Lastly, we analyzed its discrepancy.

3 Results and Discussion

In the first part of the experiment, we have measured the range of the projectile fired horizontally for
a total of 53 trials. Using Chauvnet’s criterion, we have discarded the outlier values, leaving us with a
total of 49 values. The values for the observed and expected count is summarized in table 1. Using the
Chi-Square test for the goodness of fit, we have obtained a p-value  0, which means that at the 5%
level, we accept the assumption that the measurements are governed by a Gaussian distribution.
We now consider our mean value of 172.2cm for the range of the projectile fired horizontally and with
a vertical distance of 64cm. In order to determine the initial speed of the ball, we first need to calculate
the total time it takes for the ball to hit the floor, using the equation
s r
2∆y 2(−.64)
t= = ≈ 0.361seconds (2)
g −9.8

where ∆y is the vertical distance covered by the launch (the negative sign indicates that the launch
started at y = 0) and g is the gravitational acceleration. The total time it took is approximately 0.361
seconds. We can now use this value and the mean horizontal distance to determine the initial speed of
the ball. Assuming a zero horizontal acceleration, we use the equation

∆x 1.722
vox = = ≈ 4.77m/s (3)
t 0.361
where ∆x is the total horizontal displacement and t is the time the ball took to land on the floor. We
have obtained a value of the initial speed of the ball to be approximately 4.77m/s.
For the second part of the experiment, we measured the horizontal distance covered by the projectile
fired at a 30o incline with a total of 40 trials. Using Chauvnet’s criterion, there were no outliers in the
measurements we have obtained. The observed and expected values are summarizes in Table 2. Given
these values and using the CHo-squared test for the goodness of fit, we have calculated the p-value to be
equal to 0.005, which only means that we accept the assumption that the easurements are governed by
a Gaussian distribution.
We now consider the mean value of 245.4cm for the horizontal displacement covered by the projectile
launched at a 30o incline, with a vertical distance of 72cm, and an initial velocity of 4.77m/s as calculated
in the first part of the experiment. To determine the calculated value of the range, we use the equation

1
∆y = voy t − gt2 (4)
2
rearranging the equation becomes

1
0 = − gt2 + voy t − ∆y (5)
2
Using the quadratic equation, we can calculate the time

p p
−voy ± vo2 − 2g∆y −4.77sin(30o ) ± [4.77sin(30o )]2 + 2(9.8)(.72)
t= = ≈ 0.697seconds (6)
−g −9.8

Therefore, the time it took for the ball to hit the floor is approximately 0.697 seconds. The other
solution to the quadratic equation is negative, and there is no negative time so we only consider 0.697 as
the correct value.
Now that we have calculated the time, we can now determine the value of the range using equation
3 to be approximately 2.88 m. Comparing it to the experimental value of 2.45m, we have obtained a
percent error of 15%. This error is due to the assumption that there was no horizontal acceleration in
both setups, which is actually false, since the spring gun exerted a force on the ball when the trigger was
pulled. However, we no equipment to measure the force acted by the spring gun onto the ball. In future
experiments, it is recommended to use a motion detector or any sensitive equipment that can measure
force to lessen the amount of error obtained.

Physics 192
2nd Semester A.Y. 2018 - 2019
National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
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4 Conclusion
We computed for the initial speed of the ball from the measured projectile range and horizontal distance
at a setup with and without an incline. From Chauvnet’s criterion, the outliers were removed. In the
setup without an incline, the Chi Square test showed that for the projectile range, the measurements
were accepted to follow a Gaussian distribution, allowing for the computation of the initial speed of the
ball to be 4.77m/s. For the setup with an incline, we have calculated the value of the range to be 2.88m.
In comparison with our experimental value of the range of 2.45m, we obtained a percentage error of 15%.
This error was mainly due to the assumption that there was no horizontal acceleration in the system
when in fact, the spring gun applies a force to the ball whenever the trigger was pulled.

References
[1] H. D. Young, R. A. Freedman, and A. L. Ford, University physics with modern physics technology
update (2013).
[2] C. Nave, Conservation of momentum (2016), http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/
balpen.html.
[3] C. Nave, Ballistic pendulum (2016), http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.
html.
[4] K. M. M.W. White, Conservation of momentum: Blackwood pendulum.
[5] P. Gupta, Blackwood pendulum experiment and the conservation of linear momentum, American
Journal of Physics 53, 267 (1985).

Physics 192
2nd Semester A.Y. 2018 - 2019
National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
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Figures and Tables
Table 1: Chi-Square goodness of fit for the range of the projectile fired horizontally.

Interval Observed Expected (O − E)2 /E

165:168 5 10.6 3.4327
168:171 9 10.6 0.0653
171:174 23 10.6 17.7796
174:177 10 10.6 0.0041
177:180 6 10.6 4.718
Total 53 - 26

Figure 1: Normality test of the range of the ball fired horizontally .

Table 2: Chi-Square goodness of fit for the range of the projectile fired at a 30o incline.

Interval Observed Expected (O − E)2 /E

232:237 2 8 4.500
237:242 12 8 2.000
242:247 7 8 0.125
247:252 15 8 6.125
252:257 84 2.000
Total 40 - 14.75

Physics 192
2nd Semester A.Y. 2018 - 2019
National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
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 Figure 2: Chart of observed and expected values of the range fired horizontally.

Figure 3: Spring gun arranged for measurement of the initial speed of a projectile from observations of the range
and height of fall [4].

Physics 192
2nd Semester A.Y. 2018 - 2019
National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
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 Figure 4: Normality test of the range of the ball fired at a 300 incline.

Figure 5: Chart of observed and expected values of the range fired at a 300 incline.

Physics 192
2nd Semester A.Y. 2018 - 2019
National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
6