Unit 4: Projectile Motion (continued)

This photo relates to unit 4 because on Friday we did a lab that required a metal ball to roll down a ramp and land on a specific target. We began the experiment and recorded the metal ball's velocity after the ball hit the flat table. We recorded the velocity twice with devices that were 15 cm apart. After receiving the data in logger pro, we were able to take the difference between all of the velocities and average it out. Luckily, our group got very precise data. Using this information, we predicted where the ball would land after falling from the table by calculating using the kinematic equations. Because of our precise data that we previously measured, our predictions were very accurate because when we finally tested it, the ball landed directly on the 5.

We also did another lab, which involved rockets. In the same way as the first lab, we first tested to see how long the rocket took to land when shot straight using the different caps. Then, using our most precise data, we predicted where the rocket would land using the kinematic equations again, except this time we used a little bit of trigonometry. Unfortunately, we were not as successful in this lab as we were in the first.

Overall, the past two labs allowed us to really work with the equations and predict where things would land mathematically. It was tedious but fun at the same time.