Projectile Lab
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiiWsXtt5GE
Time (2:10 - 2:13)
Time (2:10 - 2:13)
Was air resistance noticeable?
Looking at the y velocity vs. time graph, it can be concluded that air resistance is not noticeable. Although
the Vy graph have some outliers, it is fairly linear. According to Newton's first law, an object in motion
will stay in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. When acceleration is constant that means
speed is changing at a constant rate. If air resistance was noticeable, acceleration would not be constant
and therefore velocity wouldn't be increasing at a constant rate. In conclusion, air resistance is not
noticeable because the Vy graph is fairly linear due to a constant slope.
the Vy graph have some outliers, it is fairly linear. According to Newton's first law, an object in motion
will stay in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. When acceleration is constant that means
speed is changing at a constant rate. If air resistance was noticeable, acceleration would not be constant
and therefore velocity wouldn't be increasing at a constant rate. In conclusion, air resistance is not
noticeable because the Vy graph is fairly linear due to a constant slope.
Was energy conserved?
Looking at the mechanical energy graph, we can see that energy was conserved. Mechanical energy is the
sum of potential energy and kinetic energy. According to the Law of Conservation of Energy, energy cannot
be created or destroyed, but only converted to other forms. The total mechanical energy graph has an
approximate slope of 0 and energy is constant throughout the graph. If energy had been converted, then
there would have been changes in slope. From this evidence, we can conclude that energy was conserved
because the slope of the mechanical energy graph is 0.
sum of potential energy and kinetic energy. According to the Law of Conservation of Energy, energy cannot
be created or destroyed, but only converted to other forms. The total mechanical energy graph has an
approximate slope of 0 and energy is constant throughout the graph. If energy had been converted, then
there would have been changes in slope. From this evidence, we can conclude that energy was conserved
because the slope of the mechanical energy graph is 0.
Was momentum conserved?
Momentum in the X component was conserved. Impulse, the change in momentum can be
calculated using: p = mass X change in velocity. Throughtout the duration of the projectile motion, the mass
is constant. The X component of velocity has a constant slope of 0 due to no noticeable air resistance. This
causes the change in momentum of the X component to be constant at 0. Looking at the momentum of the X
component graph, the slope if fairly constant at 0. In conclusion, the momentum of the x component was
conserved because the graph has an approximate slope of 0. A slope of 0 means that momentum was
neither created or destoryed, it was conserved.
calculated using: p = mass X change in velocity. Throughtout the duration of the projectile motion, the mass
is constant. The X component of velocity has a constant slope of 0 due to no noticeable air resistance. This
causes the change in momentum of the X component to be constant at 0. Looking at the momentum of the X
component graph, the slope if fairly constant at 0. In conclusion, the momentum of the x component was
conserved because the graph has an approximate slope of 0. A slope of 0 means that momentum was
neither created or destoryed, it was conserved.
Momentum in the Y component was not conserved. It can be observed using the graph that momentum is
decreasing at a constant rate. The graph displays a fairly linear line with a few outliers that are caused by
Tracker not picking up the right points. In the Y component, momentum is being lost at a constant rate.
However, the Law of Conservation of Momentum states that momentum cannot be created or destroyed in a
closed system, but only transferred. The Y component graph shows momentum decreasing because it does
not take into account the transfer of momentum in the closed system. In conclusion, momentum was
conserved when you take into account the overall system.
decreasing at a constant rate. The graph displays a fairly linear line with a few outliers that are caused by
Tracker not picking up the right points. In the Y component, momentum is being lost at a constant rate.
However, the Law of Conservation of Momentum states that momentum cannot be created or destroyed in a
closed system, but only transferred. The Y component graph shows momentum decreasing because it does
not take into account the transfer of momentum in the closed system. In conclusion, momentum was
conserved when you take into account the overall system.