Projectile+Motion

=Define the Problem=

//How does the angle that the projectile is launched affect the range of the projectile?//

=Research the Topic= The curved path of a projectile is called a parabola, and was discovered by Galileo, a Greek philosopher. A parabola is caused by 2 types of motion: horizontal and vertical. If two objects were dropped from the same height no matter what the weight they would hit the ground at the same time. If an object was moving horizontally it would stay at the same speed.

=Make Observations= =media type="file" key="PM1.avi"media type="file" key="PM2.avi"media type="file" key="Dartbeingshot.avi"= The group observed that the ball went fast while going down then it did when going up. The ball made a parabola in the air. The dart gun also made a parabola, and the speed increased while going down, and descreased while going up.

See more Projectile Videos.

= = = = =Hypothesis= We thought that the angle that would make the projectile fly the farthest would be the 45 degree angle.

=Materials + Method= ~ Dart Gun ~ Darts ~ Toss Ball ~ Ice Ball ~ Air Rocket ~ Protactor ~ Angle Septor

For the ice freeze we clicked a button and it always had the same parabola. The air rocket usually went about 20 feet and then dropped right down. We shot the dart gun at 5 degrees. They were 0,20,45,75,and 90 degrees. 0 egrees had the smallest parabola and 90 degrees had the biggest

=RESULTS=

The data trend was quite conclusive. The average distance traveled by the projectile when launched was as follows:
 * **Angle** ||
 * Average Range (cm) ||
 * **0** ||
 * 553.667 ||
 * **20** ||
 * 732.667 ||
 * **45** ||
 * 486.667 ||
 * **70** ||
 * 193.33 ||
 * **90** ||
 * -64.667 ||
 * **70** ||
 * 193.33 ||
 * **90** ||
 * -64.667 ||
 * -64.667 ||

=Conclusions=

__Period 3__ Clearly, a projectile launched at 20° traveled the farthest. The 90° launched actually caused the projectile to go backwards! It was hypothesized that a projectile launched at a 45° angle would cause the projectile to travel the farthest distance, but the evidence gathered suggests that a 20° launch angle was better for a longer distance.

__Period 4__ The angle that maximizes the range is 45 degrees. The average range for zero degrees is 487cm, the average range for 20 degrees is 667cm, the average range for 45 degrees was 713cm, the average range for 70 degrees is 553cm, and the average range for 90 degrees is 279cm. By far, 45 degrees shoots the dart gun the furthest. The hypothesis was confirmed. To make this experiment better it should be done multiple times, and with a different type of sticker gun. Also, a different enviroment would have helped the accuracy.