Microsoft Word - PHET Virtual Projectile Lab mod.docx
Name_____________________________________________ XXXXXXXXXXPeriod: _____________
PhET Projectile Motion Lab
https:
phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/projectile-motion/latest/projectile-motion_en.html
Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the simulation and shoot stuff with the cannon. Follow along with the questions below. NOTE: You must pay attention to the maximum height during this investigation!
1. Fire the projectile launcher straight upwards (angle = 90o) at 18 m/s. Record the following information:
a) Time:
) Horizontal distance (range):
c) Vertical distance (height):
2. Pick any initial speed and launch angle, and fire the both the golf ball and tank shell (fire them at the same angles that you chose) : [Note the default for the mass: How does the mass of an object affect its motion through the air? You will need to use the BLUE BOX IN THE TOP RIGHT AND MOVE THE CROSSHAIRS TO FIND THE NUMBERS to measure the maximum height and the range.
Give the following information & NOTE HOW MASS IS AFFECTING THE PROJECTILE MOTION:
Golf Ball —2 trials with 2 different angles: Tank shell ---2 trials with 2 different angles:
Time: Time: Time: Time:
Range: Range: Range: Range:
Height: Height: Height: Height:
Mass: Mass:
3. You are now going to investigate the effect of launch angle on several different parameters; air time, maximum height, and range. MAKE SURE TO LIFT THE CANNON UP FROM 0 HEIGHT SO YOU CAN GET TO 10 DEGREES
a) Fire the projectile launcher (CHOOSE WHAT TO SHOOT, LIKE THE CANNONBALL) at the following angles (with the same initial speed of 18 m/s and any other variables that default), then fill in the table below. You will need to use the BLUE BOX IN THE TOP RIGHT AND MOVE THE CROSSHAIRS TO FIND THE NUMBERS to measure the maximum height and the range.
Angle
Initial Speed (m/s)
Air Time
(s)
Maximum
Height (m)
Range (m)
10o
18
20o
18
30o
18
40o
18
50o
18
60o
18
70o
18
80o
18
90o
18
) Create a graph with this information. Your variables on the graph are angle and range… which one is impacting the other? Plot the information and find any patterns that may arise.
c) What is the best angle for maximum height and air time?
d) Is there a direct relationship between air time and range? {Look at your data & “notice” if range & time are doing the same thing……..}.
e) Which of your angles above gave the most range?
f) Look at the data & find the two launch angles that add to 90o which give the same range and try to explain why they equaled each other.
4. Keep the mass the same; angle at 25°; Change the initial speed to: XXXXXXXXXXm/s; XXXXXXXXXXm/s; XXXXXXXXXXm/s.
a) Note what happens with the initial velocity (vi) and record:
Initial Velocity
Range
Total
Time
1. Does varying the initial speed affect your results? Why do you think this is the case?
2. Describe the shape of all of the projectiles for the change in initial speed.
) What effect does increasing the initial speed/velocity have on the range of the projectile? Explain your results.
5. Reset the cannon back to the ground. This time, check the box. You can leave the drag coefficient and altitude at 1 and 0 where they are by default. Keep the red target on the x-axis as it was before. Start with the tank shell as your projectile.
a) What effect does the mass of an object have on the maximum height and range when air resistance is turned on? Explain.
) What is the best angle for maximum range for the tank shell at an initial speed of 18 m/s when air resistance is turned on? Is this result different than when there was zero air resistance? Explain your results.
c) Find the best angle for maximum range (when the object hits your target) with four different objects. **Be sure to have air resistance on. Record this information in the table below:
Object
Mass (kg)
Angle for maximum range
d) Is the angle for maximum range dependent on the mass of an object when air resistance is turned on?
6. Conclusion: What can you overall conclude about projectile motion? What variables are impacting an object that is flying. What seems to be the most important variable when trying to get the farthest range? Go back to the introduction for projectile motion, on question 3 you were asked what made the biggest impact on how far a football would go… were you right in your assumption, explain why or why not? ANSWER ALL OF THESE QUESTOINS TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT ON THIS QUESTION.