Is the y-component of projectile motion acceleration equal to gravity?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a lab experiment on projectile motion, specifically examining the y-component of acceleration derived from a velocity versus time graph. Participants are questioning whether this acceleration should equal the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately -9.8 m/s², particularly given that the projectile was launched at an angle.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to understand the relationship between the measured y-component of acceleration and gravitational acceleration. Some are questioning the impact of the launch angle on this relationship, while others are seeking clarification on the experimental setup and data collection methods.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights and asking for more details about the experimental setup. There is a recognition that the angle of launch may influence the results, and some participants are exploring the mathematical relationships between the components of motion.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted lack of detailed information about the experimental conditions, which may affect interpretations of the results. Participants are encouraged to provide clearer descriptions of their experiments to facilitate better understanding.

devilish_wit
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Homework Statement


We had a lab on projectile motion and one of the questions was this:

Use your Vy versus t graph to determine the y-component of the acceleration of the puck. Should this be equal to the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s)? Explain why it is or why it is not.

The acceleration we got from the Vy vs time graph is -1.90m/s^2. Should that have been the same with -9.8 m/s^2? Also just take note that the object was launched at a certain angle.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



My answer is no because the platform at which the object was thrown was launched at an angle (?) I really can't explain it.
 
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devilish_wit said:
Should that have been the same with -9.8 m/s^2?
You don't give much detail of the experiment, but it sounds like it should have been much closer to g.
Please give a clear description of the set up and post the data you collected in a form that can be cut and pasted.
 
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devilish_wit said:

Homework Statement


We had a lab on projectile motion and one of the questions was this:

Use your Vy versus t graph to determine the y-component of the acceleration of the puck. Should this be equal to the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s)? Explain why it is or why it is not.

The acceleration we got from the Vy vs time graph is -1.90m/s^2. Should that have been the same with -9.8 m/s^2? Also just take note that the object was launched at a certain angle.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



My answer is no because the platform at which the object was thrown was launched at an angle (?) I really can't explain it.

As has been stated, no one could, or should, be able to answer this without you describing explicitly the nature of your experiment. After all, this "projectile" could have been launched on a slanted surface, etc... (since it was called a "puck").

Zz.
 
Poster has been reminded not to create multiple threads about the same question
Should the acceleration found through Vy vs. t graph be always equal to -9.8 m/s^2?

Does the angle of launch affect gravity?
 
What do you think and why?

And are you aware of the mathematical concepts of vectors and the horizontal and vertical components of a vector?
 
I guess the acceleration from Vy vs t should equal to 9.8 m/s^2, while the one you find from Vx vs t is 0m/s^2. So when you take those values and solve “a = square root of x^2 + y^2” it would equal to the gravitational acceleration 9.8 m/s^2.

I mean I’m not the best in physics that’s why I’m here to ask questions that need clarification.
 
Thread closed temporarily for Moderation...
 
Thread re-opened after a 2nd thread on the same question was merged into this original thread.
 
devilish_wit said:
I guess the acceleration from Vy vs t should equal to 9.8 m/s^2, while the one you find from Vx vs t is 0m/s^2. So when you take those values and solve “a = square root of x^2 + y^2” it would equal to the gravitational acceleration 9.8 m/s^2.

I mean I’m not the best in physics that’s why I’m here to ask questions that need clarification.
Please respond to post #2.
 
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