October 2021

Virtual Lab 1: Projectile Motion

Haley Jimenez
Partner: Josephine Pabon
Date of experiment: 10/13/23
Date due: 10/20/23
Professor Huggins

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Purpose
This virtual experiment investigates the principles of projectile motion. Using these principles,
you will calculate elements of projectile motion and compare your results to the results of a
computer program.

Theory
The motions of a projectile in the horizontal and vertical directions can be considered separately.
The motion in the vertical direction is subject to the force of gravity and a = g. In the horizontal
direction, there is no force or acceleration and the distance traveled is given by formula (1) with
a = 0.
Table One
Kinematic Formulas for Projectile Motion
(These formulas apply in each direction separately.)
(1) vf = v0 + a t a = acceleration
d0 =initial position
(2) d = d0 + v0t + ½ a t2
d = total distance traveled
(3) vf2 = v02 + 2a (d – d0) v0 = initial velocity
vf = final velocity
(4) d = d0 + ½ (v0 + v) t
t = time of travel

Applying these formulas to this experiment we have:

Table Two
Kinematic Formulas for Projectile Motion
Applied to this Virtual Experiment
Horizontal Direction Vertical Direction
component of vo in x direction component of vo in y direction
v0X = v0 cosθ v0Y = v0 sinθ
(1) x = v0Xt (1) vfy = v0y + a t
(2) y = v0y t + ½ a t2
(3) vfy2 = v0y2 + 2ay
(4) y = ½ (v0y + vfy) t

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Preliminary Procedure
We will practice using the program and try to understand the basic concepts of projectile motion.
Start with these steps:
1) Choose a projectile (down arrow next to “Cannonball”), an angle (by rotating the canon) and
an initial speed (slider below the cannon).
2) Fire the projectile (RED icon).
3) Place the “crosshair circle” that is attached to the “Time, Range, Height” box over the
various dots on the projectile path. The time, range, and height at that particular point will be
shown.

Procedure Part I – Basic Concepts

4) Prepare a data sheet.
Initial speed: 20 m/s
Angle of cannon: 40 degrees from ground
Height of cannon: 0 m
Range: 20.08 m
Mass:10.0 kg
Diameter: 0.18 m

Change
a) Mass: 20.0 kg
a. Range: 20.08 m
b) Diameter: 0.50 m
a. Range: 20.08 m
c) Initial speed: 10 m/s
a. Range: 5.02 m
d) Angle: 30 degrees
a. Range: 17.66 m

5) By using the simulator, answer the following questions on your data sheet:
a) Will changing the mass of the projectile affect the range?
No, it will not. Even after doubling the mass, the range remained the same.
b) Will changing the diameter of the projectile affect the range?
Even after making the diameter a higher number, the range still remained the same
c) How does changing the initial speed of the projectile affect the range?

When we decreased the initial speed by half, the range was affected. It decreased.
d) How does changing the angle affect the range?
When the angle was decreased, the range was affected. The range also decreased.
e) What angle will give the projectile the maximum range?

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When the angle was changed, to 45 degrees, it gave the maximum range of 20.39 m.

Procedure Part II – Calculate & Verify

6) Choose an angle (not 450) and an initial speed (no more than 15 m/s). Record both on your
data sheet.
- Angle: 60 degrees
- Initial speed: 10 m/s
- Calculated height: 3.82 m
- Experimental height: 3.82 m
- Calculated horizontal distance: 8.8 m
- Experimental horizontal distance: 8.83 m
- Calculated time: 0.883 s
- Experimental time: 0.88 s

7) First calculate on your data sheet the maximum vertical height and horizontal range from
the origin. Show all calculations including the equations, numbers and units.

You may use these steps to do the calculation: (Find the appropriate formulas in Table Two.)
a) Calculate the maximum vertical height. (Hint: what is vy at this height?)
b) Calculate the time it will take to go up and then go down to the ground. (Hint: the y speed
at the bottom is equal and opposite to the initial y speed.)
c) Calculate the horizontal distance it will travel during this time.

8) Input your angle and the initial speed into the simulator and FIRE!

9) Use the crosshair circle from the program and measure the horizontal range from the
cannon to the end of the red or blue projectile path. Record the “Range” number from the
box onto your data sheet. This is the horizontal range of the projectile.

10) Calculate the percent discrepancy of the horizontal range between your calculated value and
the measured value, using the measured value as base.

11) Use the crosshair circle and measure the maximum vertical height at the peak of the
projectile’s path. Record the “Height” number from the box onto your data sheet. That is the
maximum height of the projectile.

- Maximum vertical height: 3.82

12) Calculate the percent discrepancy of the maximum height between your calculated value and
the measured value, using the measured value as base.

Question #1: There is another angle that can achieve the same horizontal range without changing
the initial speed. What is that other angle? Verify your answer using the simulator.
- The other angle is 30 degrees

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Question #2: If there is air resistance, will the two angles in Part II and Question #1 produce the
same horizontal range? If not, at which angle will the projectile travel further? (Try both angles
on the simulator with the cannonball at maximum diameter.)
- Range with everything: 7.41 m at 60 degrees
- Range with everything: 7.74 m at 30 degrees
They will not produce the same horizontal range. At the angle of 30 degrees, the projectile
travels further.

Procedure Part III – Firing a projectile horizontally from a cliff

13) Raise the cannon to a height of your choice and record that height onto your data sheet.
- Height: 5 m

14) Set the angle to be 00 and choose an initial speed (no more than 15 m/s). Record both, on
your data sheet.
- 10 m/s

15) Input the angle and the initial speed into the simulator and FIRE!

16) Place the crosshair at the end of the path and copy the “Range” number from the box onto
your data sheet. The “Range” number is the horizontal distance from the base of the column
to where the projectile has landed.
- Range: 10.1 m

Procedure Part IV – Target Practice

17) Lower the cannon back to ground level.

18) Place the red target somewhere from the canon and record its distance on the data sheet. Use
trial and error and find TWO sets of initial speed and angle combinations that will hit the
center of the target (three stars). Record both sets of data on your data sheet.

- Target: 16 m
Set 1:
- Initial speed: 16 m/s
- Angle: 71 degrees
Set 2:
- Initial speed: 13 m/s
- Angle: 55 degrees

Lab Report

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Part III
1) Using the angle and the initial speed from part III, along with the initial height of the
projectile, calculate the horizontal range of the projectile from the base of the column.

2) Find the percent discrepancy of the horizontal range between your calculated value and the
simulation value from 16 using the simulation value as the base.

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