COMSATS University, Islamabad

Lab Report #06

Group #8

Submitted to:
Dr. Muhammad Rashid
Submitted by:
Syed Junaid Ahmed SP18-BCS-155
M. Faraz Haider SP18-BCS-103
Tanzeel Khan SP18-BCS-162
Wasiq Qamar SP18-BCS-173

November 10, 2018

Department of Computer Science

2018

MECHANICS AND THERMODYNAMICS 1

 Projectile Motion
1 Objective
Calculate the speed of Projectile.

2 Apparatus
 Photogate Timer: with Accessory Photogate
 Ball and ramp
 Meter stick
 Plumb bob
 Carbon paper

3 Procedure
1. Place the photogate at the end of the table.
2. Incline the photogate from one side.
3. Set the declined side of photogate at the end of the table.
4. Now measure the height from end of the table to the ground and mark the point on the
floor as point P1. This height will be dy.
5. The length of the glider will be ∆d. And the place where the glider falls is point P2.
6. The distance from P2 to P1 is dx. Set the Photogate timer to Gate mode.
7. The time noted will be t.

4 Precaution and Source Error

Error can come in our calculation if the Photogate is not perfectly aligned. Or if we leave the glider
with force in start or not from the initial point but in the middle, this will cause change in velocity and
it’s distance along x-axis.

5 Working Formula
Vo can be calculated in two ways. One is simply dividing ∆d by t. Other can be calculated getting
value of t from dx = (Vo ) t and putting it into dy = (½)at2. V0 becomes √ (1/2) (a) (dx2 / dy).

6 Table of Readings
Trial time, t distance, dx Vo(avg) = ∆d / t V0 = √ (1/2) (a)
(dx2 / dy)

MECHANICS AND THERMODYNAMICS 2

 1 0.079796 60 125.3196 136.989

2 0.079708 62.5 125.4579 142.697

3 0.079592 60.5 125.6408 138.130

4 0.079784 58.5 125.3384 133.564

5 0.080152 59 124.7630 134.706

Averages 0.0798064 60.1 125.304 136.217

Table 1: Table of collected Data

7 Calculations
Vo(avg) = ∆d / t

dx = (Vo) t

t = dx / Vo

dy = (½)at2

dy = (½)a(dx/Vo)2

V0 = √ (1/2) (a) (dx2 / dy).

8 Error Analysis
Percentage uncertainty = ((Actual Value – measured value)/actual value) x 100

Percentage uncertainty = ((125.304 – 136.217)/ 125.304) x 100

Percentage uncertainty = -8.71%

This shows us that there is -8.71% error in our calculation caused by miss use of equipment or
human error.

9 Result
Thus, we have practically calculated the value of V0 which is the velocity of projectile. It can vary
by using different methods which give us the error in our calculation.

MECHANICS AND THERMODYNAMICS 3