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![Picture](/uploads/2/6/3/7/26374286/8904591.jpg?317)
In order to understand the movement of projectiles, the task has been given to hit a target with a projectile with only a single opportunity to do so. Given for this task are air resistant ball bearings, a ramp, a balance and xplorer devices. They are to be used to create the most precise and accurate projectile track possible.
Procedure
1. Place the beam onto a flat surface and attach the time gates at the end, as close together as possible.
2. Place the ramp onto the beam and align it so that the flat end of the ramp passes through the time gates as far as possible. Make sure that none of the ramp's curved part is in the time gate.
3. Hook up the xplorer device to the beam. Then, drop the ball bearing from the yellow tape on the ramp and record the time data.
4. Calculate the final velocity of the ball given the data calculated.
5. With the final velocity calculated, calculate the range the ball will travel in the air.
6. Put the ramp on the table so that the end hangs over. Tape behind it to mark its place
7. Use the block to measure the exact spot the ball will be as it leaves the ramp and mark it.
8. Align the target paper with the spot marked and move it the so that the target with the 10 spot in it is the same range away that was calculated earlier.
9. Drop the ball down the ramp and record results.
Calculations
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Given that the results from testing the time the ball takes to cross in between the gates, we can calculate the projected range of the ball.
Results
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/3/7/26374286/1395511353.png)
The results of this endeavor show our calculations to have been off. Our calculated range was 0.925 m. The ball hit a little more than 10 cm away and not in a straight line. Air resistance could be a possible reason why it did not travel in a straight line however, the ball was dense and the amount of air resistance in actuality seemed minimal. The result for this could be that in the rush to get the test recorded, either A) the ramp moved from it's required position or B) the point when the ball leaves the ramp was not recorded correctly. As for the vertical distance away, the time rush probably caused error on the exact distance away the sheet was placed.
Sources of Error
Some sources of error include the surrounding environment and instrument drift. The surrounding environment during the time of the experiment was very active and so movement around the test area could have affected the results, such as an someone unknowingly moving the ramp the ball would be shot from. Also, as we were using the xplorer to check the time between the gates, it is noticed that the values got lower over time. This could be attributed to the drift of the instrument being used to measure, and it can lead to error.