Projectile Motion Lab: Analyzing Initial Velocity Components
What is Shereen trying to determine in her physics lab?
Shereen is trying to determine the initial velocity components of a projectile launched into a can.
What are the specific questions Shereen needs to answer?
Shereen needs to determine the initial velocity components, the time of flight, the horizontal distance traveled, the speed on impact, and the ideal launch angle for greater horizontal displacement.
Initial Velocity Components:
Shereen's initial velocity components are approximately V₀x = 5.04 m/s and V₀y = 4.81 m/s.
Time of Flight:
The time of flight is approximately 1.07 seconds.
Horizontal Distance Traveled:
The horizontal distance traveled is approximately 5.39 meters.
Speed on Impact:
The speed on impact is approximately 6.98 m/s.
Angle for Greater Horizontal Displacement:
To achieve a greater horizontal displacement, Shereen should launch the projectile at an angle closer to 45° from the horizontal.
Shereen is conducting a projectile motion lab in her physics class, aiming to analyze the initial velocity components of a launched projectile. To solve this problem, we first need to break down the given velocity into its horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal component can be found by multiplying the initial velocity by the cosine of the launch angle, while the vertical component can be found by multiplying the initial velocity by the sine of the launch angle.
The time of flight can be determined by using the vertical component of the initial velocity. The horizontal distance traveled is calculated using the horizontal component and the time of flight. The speed on impact is the magnitude of the velocity vector when the projectile hits the ground. Finally, to achieve a greater horizontal displacement, Shereen should launch the projectile at an angle closer to 45° from the horizontal, maximizing the range for a given initial velocity.