School of Mechanical and Manufacturing

Engineering, SMME

LAB DEMONSTRATOR(s): 1) Ms. Zoya Iqbal

2) Ms. Sundas

SCHOOL: SMME

SEMESTER: 1 SECTION: A
GROUP: 1
DATE: October 19th, 2023

NAME REG. NO.

1 Aatika Kamran 464185

2 Abdullah Khurram 466612

3 Ahmed Adil Hussain 477537

4 Ayesha Khan 478212

5 Juveriah Waqqas 460510

6 Muhammad Bin Ahsan 468098

 Mini Launcher
EXPERIMENT 3: Projectile Range versus Angle

ABSTRACT:
“Form of two-dimensional motion experienced by an object or particle (a projectile)
that is thrown near the earth’s surface and moves along a curved path under the action
of gravity only (in particular, effects of air resistance are considered negligible)
is called projectile motion.”
The path followed by a projectile is trajectory. The curved path of objects in projectile motion was
shown by Galileo, to be a parabola, but may also be a straight line in the special case when it is
thrown directly upwards. The aim of the experiment is to determine the relation between the angle at
which the projectile is launched and the horizontal distance (called as range) it covers. The ball is
launched in two different scenarios: once on the level surface and the other off the level surface. The
final aim is to find the angle that provides the greatest range.

THEORY:

The distance R between the muzzle of the launcher and the point where the ball lands is called the
range of the launcher. It is given by:
𝑣0 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃
𝑅=
𝑔
Where 𝑣0 is the initial velocity at 𝜃 = 0 and 𝜃 is the angle at which the ball is launched. If we have
these values, we can calculate the theoretical range of the launcher. In order to compare the theoretical
and actual range of the launcher we tape a carbon paper over a normal paper and place it where we
think the ball will land. We can then measure the actual distance and compare the two values to get the
percentage error. We take two readings for every angle 𝜃 that is a multiple of 10 from 20° to 80°.
APPARATUS:
• Mini Launcher and steel ball
• Plumb bob
• Meter stick
• Carbon paper
• White paper
 (A) Off The Table
PROCEDURE:

1. Arrange the mini launcher at a certain height.

2. Adjust the Mini Launcher to 10ο angle.
3. Fire the ball at the angle two times.
4. Measure the distances of the spots from the releasing point (R).
5. Repeat Step 2-4 for angles 20ο, 30ο, 40ο, 50ο, 60ο, 70ο and 80ο.

TABLE OF OBSERVATIONS:

No. of Angle (θ) Range x1 Range x2 Average

Observations (m) (m) Range xavg
(Reading 1) (Reading 1) (m)
1 0ο 78.5 78.6 78.55
2 10ο 98.6 98.2 98.4
3 20 ο 117.6 117.0 117.3
4 30 ο 121.9 122.0 129.95
5 40 ο 133.8 133.0 133.4
6 50 ο 123.2 124.0 123.6
7 60 ο 107 106.6 106.8
8 70 ο 70.2 70.0 70.1
9 80 ο 43.6 43.5 43.55
10 90 ο 0.0 0.0 0.0
DISCUSSION:
We used the above-mentioned technique to collect the data that data is stated above. In the
result, we get a minute error in our performed experiment. As a result, the maximum range
we get after plotting the graph is at 40 degrees instead of theoretically
calculated 45 degrees. In the performed experiment of shooting ball off the table the angle
for maximum range was 40°. In the case of shooting on table, maximum range was on 50°.
The angle for maximum range for shooting off the table is 40° which is less than 50°
which is angle of maximum range for the experiment performed of shooting on the table.
Range is maximum in case when ball is shot off the table.

CONCLUSION:
From this experiment, we conclude that the range of the projectile depends upon the angle
at which it is projected. The maximum range is found at 45 degrees in ideal cases while in
our performed experiment, it is found at 40 degrees which indicates the
presence of an error. Range is maximum in case when ball is shot off the table.
 (B) On The Table

PROCEDURE:
6. Clamp the mini launcher, to the table.
7. Adjust the Mini Launcher to 10ο angle.
8. Fire the ball at the angle two times.
9. Measure the distances of the spots from the releasing point (R).
10. Repeat Step 2-4 for angles 20ο, 30ο, 40ο, 50ο, 60ο, 70ο and 80ο.

DATA ANALYSIS:
TABLE OF OBSERVATIONS

No of Angle Range x1 Range x2 Average Range xavg

Observations (θ) (m) (m) (m)
(Reading 1) (Reading 2)
1 0ο 0 0 0
2 10ο 0.376 0.368 0.372
3 20 ο 0.572 0.59 0.581
4 30 ο 0.822 0.822 0.822
5 40 ο 0.968 0.968 0.968
6 50 ο 1.022 1.03 1.026
7 60 ο 0.958 0.958 0.958
8 70 ο 0.748 0.756 0.752
9 80 ο 0.364 0.378 0.371

DISCUSSION:
The procedure described above was utilized to gather the information presented in the table
provided. Upon analyzing the results i.e. the angle versus range graph, we observed a minor
discrepancy. According to theoretical calculations, the maximum range should have been
achieved at an angle of 45 degrees. However, our experimental results indicated that the
maximum range occurred at an angle of 50 degrees instead.
This difference can be attributed to various environmental factors that were not accounted
for in the theoretical calculations. For instance, the difference between the theoretically
predicted maximum range at 45 degrees and the experimentally obtained maximum range
at 40 degrees can be largely attributed to the influences of air resistance, wind, and potential
human errors. These factors, which are not accurately considered in theoretical calculations,
can introduce variability to the experimental results.
CONCLUSION:
In our experiment, we investigated how the distance a projectile travels is affected by the angle at
which it is launched. Our experiment revealed that the angle at which a projectile is launched has
a direct impact on its distance traveled. While theoretical expectations suggested that the farthest
distance would occur at an angle of 45, our experimental results demonstrated that the maximum
distance was achieved at an angle of 50 degrees. This difference in angles indicates the possibility
of errors that affected our experimental measurements but were not considered in the theoretical
ones.
 EXPERIMENT 4: Projectile Path
ABSTRACT:
The experiment aims to determine the relation between:

-The horizontal distance, known as the range, of a projectile (launched at a constant height and zero angle),

-The vertical distance covered by the projectile (by finding the difference in the vertical height at each specific
range and the maximum height of the projectile at zero range).

The projectile is launched in front of a large vertical wooden slab placed at 90 degrees at varying distances
from where the projectile is launched.

THEORY:
If we look at it theoretically, we know that the projectile launched at a set height at zero angle
will cover a maximum vertical distance yo (which will be equal to the height that it was launched
at) when it hits the ground and bounces off. If we measure this specific range x and then decrease
the range by regular intervals, the vertical distance covered by the projectile will start to decrease
and will become zero once the range becomes zero. Using carbon papers and A4-sized papers
stuck on a wooden slab that is placed vertically from the launcher at 90 degrees, we can vary the
range manually, make a note of where the projectile hit the slab for that range (determining so
from the mark left on the A4-sheet by the carbon paper), and measure the distance between that
point and the bottom of the slab (y) and subtract it from yo. This, in theory, should be the vertical
distance covered by the projectile for that specific range.
We already know that x2 will be directly proportional to Δy (yo-y) since we know that by the
equation:
x = vo cosƟ t
since the angle is zero, and since the equation is being squared on both sides, with some rearrangement,
t2 = vo 2 / x2
substituting with the 2nd Equation of Motion, t2 = 2/ g (yo -y), this proves that x2 ∝ Δy.

SETUP:
1. Clamp the Mini Launcher near one end of a sturdy table with the Launcher aimed away from the
table.
2. Adjust the angle of the Mini Launcher to zero degrees so the ball will be launched horizontally.
3. Fire a test shot on the long-range setting to determine the initial position of the vertical target. Place
the target so the ball hits it near the bottom. See Figure 4.1.
4. Cover the target board with white paper. Tape carbon paper (carbon side down) over the white
paper.
PROCEDURE:
1. Measure the vertical height from the floor to the muzzle and record it in the table. Mark this height
on the target.
2. Measure the horizontal distance from the muzzle of the Mini Launcher to the target and record it in
the table.
3. Shoot the ball.
4. Move the target about 10 cm closer to the Launcher.
5. Repeat Steps 2 through 4 until the ball strikes the target about 10 cm below the muzzle height.
DATA ANALYSIS:
Table of Observations
Height of Muzzle = 40.2cm

No of observations X X2 Y
Horizontal distance (cm) Vertical distance
(cm) (cm)
1 88.1 7761.61 40.2
2 78.1 6099.61 33.2
3 68.1 4637.61 25.7
4 58.1 3375.61 19.2
5 48.1 2313.61 13.5
6 38.1 1451.61 8.8
7 28.1 789.61 5.1
8 18.1 327.61 2.6
9 8.1 65.61 0.5
10 0 0 0

ANALYSIS:

1. At first, we measured the distance x where the ball covers the maximum vertical distance and noted
it
2. The horizontal distance for the ball is reduced gradually and the corresponding vertical distance is
being measured.
3. Using these values of x and y, we calculated x2 and then using the values of y and x2 plotted a graph.
As we know from the formula in the theory part y is directly proportional to x2. Thus, this will give
us a straight line.
CALCULATIONS:
x = vo cosƟ t
t = vo / x
t2 = vo 2 / x2
t2 from 2nd equation of motion
t2 = 2/ g (yo -y)
so by comparison
x2 ∝ (yo-y)
x2 ∝ Δy

DISCUSSION:
This experiment was used to collect data and co-relate the values of the horizontal range and the
vertical distance covered. The method described above was used to collect data about the values.
CONCLUSION:
In this lab, we saw the relation between x2 and y which is a straight line. Thus the relation between
vertical and horizontal distance ie range and height was found.