Shootin’ Hoops Lab

Cody Hall, Ben Brockway, Celeste Hamre,

Silas Talbot, Rowan Bulkow

Stout, AP Physics

9/9/10-9/10/10
Two Dimensional Kinematics with launchers, maximum heights and
unequal y-displacements

Introduction
The purpose of the lab was to prove to Mr. Stout that our group could shoot a ball
out of a launcher, have the ball go through a circular hoop at the apex height of
the projection, and land in a container whose starting y-height was different from
the launcher’s original height. Our group must accomplish this by experimenting
only with pre-shoot data, using this data and equations to figure out precise
measurements for the actual ‘shoot’, and getting the ball through said shoot’s
challenges before the 3rd attempt.

Materials
Projectile launcher
Books (as height displacement for the container)
A launcher ball
Stop watch
Meter sticks

Assumptions
No air resistance
x velocity remains constant
acceleration to gravity is 9.8 meters/second^2

Methods and Data

We started out lab by getting initial velocity measurements of the ball coming out
of the launcher (the muzzle velocity). We did this by steadying the launcher
parallel to the floor, and using a stopwatch to time how long it took to reach the
ground after we shot it. We then used the distance it traveled, divided it by the
time, and found the muzzle velocity.

Distance = 2.4 meters

Time = .34 seconds
Velocity = 2.4 meters/.34 seconds = 6.8677 meters/second

Using this velocity, we were able to find it’s y and x velocities at any angle given
using sin and cos equations. Our angle given for the lab was 45°, so we did the
following equations to find our velocities

x initial velocity = 6.8677*cos(45°) = 4.8562 meters/second

y initial velocity = 6.8677*sin(45°) = 4.8562 meters/second

Essentially, the x velocity should remain the same through the entire projection,
since it is unaffected by gravity. This is saved for later. Now, to find the max
height, we used the equation y-max height = (velocity final^2 – velocity
initial)^2/2acceleration. Since the velocity final is 0 at the maximum height, we
only have the y displacement to solve for. This is the height from the launcher we
set the ring to.

ymax = (Vf^2 – Vo^2)/2(9.8) = 1.20191 meters

After finding the maximum height from the launcher to the ring, we can then solve
for the displacement from the ring to the stack of books. We know the height from
the floor to the launcher (y1), the height from the launcher to the ring (y2), and
given the height of the books (y4)(30cm), we can then set them in proportion and
solve for the displacement from the ring to the books (y3).

y1+ y2 = y3+ y4
1.18m+1.20+m = y3+.30m
y3 = 2.08 meters

Since we now know both the displacements from the ring to the launcher and the
ring to the books, we can find the time it takes for the ball to drop with just gravity
as it’s acceleration from each displacement. The time for y2 is t1, and the time for
y3 is t2.

Equation for time: y displacement = 1/2 the acceleration of gravity * time^2

y2 = 1/2(9.8)(t1)^2
1.20 = 1/2(9.8)(t1)^2
t1 = .495 seconds

y3 = 1/2(9.8)(t2)^2
2.08 = 1/2(9.8)(t2)^2
t2 = .652 seconds

Now that we have both the times from the launcher to the ring, as well as the ring
to the books, we can add them together for the total time (t3) from the launcher to
the ring

t1 + t2 = t3
.652 + .495 = t3
t3 = 1.198 seconds

We now have the total time from the launcher to the books. And since we also
have found the x velocity, we can use both these numbers to calculate the total x
distance from the launcher to the books.

x displacement = x velocity * time

x = 4.8562 * 1.198
x = 5.57 meters

We have now found all factors for the lab ‘shoot’ and are ready to set up the
experiment and find out if our calculations are correct

Prediction
Our ball shot out of the launcher will go through the ring at the apex of the
parabolic motion, and then land in the tray on the first attempt

Results
Our prediction was off. We had accidentally set the ring about 5cm too high and
10cm to the right of the actual trajectory. Our box was also not completely in line
with the trajectory, with the ball landing a few centimeters away from the left of
the rim. We fixed our mistakes and miraculously shot the ball through the ring
with ‘’nothing but net’’ and landing perfectly in the container on the second try.

Conclusion
Our group successfully shot the ball through the ring and landed in the container
on the second attempt. After finding all the necessary components of the lab, we
ended with accurate results, and thus deserving an A.