Mini-Ball Launcher Lab Report
Purpose:
The purpose of this lab experiment was to predict and validate the range of a ball launched at an angle. To determine the range of the ball at the given angle, my lab partners and I first had to find the initial velocity of the ball by shooting it horizontally, measuring the height of the launcher and the range.
Procedure:
The mini launcher needs to be clamped down at the end of a sturdy table to prevent movement. The mini launcher has to be adjusted to zero degrees, in order for the ball to be ejected horizontally. In Part A, the ball is placed inside the mini launcher and cocked to the medium range (two clicks) position. Fire one shot to identify where the ball hits the floor, so that we have an idea where to place the white paper attached with carbon paper. The carbon paper leaves a mark on the white paper when the ball hits it. We fired ten shots. After the trials, we measured the vertical distance from the marked point on the barrel of the launcher to the floor. We used a plumb bob to find the exact location on the floor where the ball left the barrel. From that location to the leading edge of the paper, we measured the horizontal distance. After that, I measured the distance of each of the ten dots on the paper to the edge of the paper. We were able to find the average distance of the ten dots, as well as the total average distance. My partners and I used the vertical distance to calculate the time of flight. We were now able to calculate the initial velocity of the ball by using the total average horizontal distance and our calculated time of flight. For part B, we had to adjust the Mini Launcher to launch at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees above the horizontal; my partners and I agreed to launch it at 60 degrees. To calculate the new time of flight and the new horizontal range, we had to use the initial velocity and vertical distance from Part A. On a white piece of paper, we drew a mark to represent our...