Projectile Motion Lab: Solving for Velocity and Distance with a Ramp and Ball

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a lab experiment on projectile motion, specifically involving a ball rolling off a ramp and estimating its landing distance. The original poster seeks clarification on calculating the velocity of the ball and its relationship to the distance traveled.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster presents equations related to potential and kinetic energy to find the velocity of the ball. They question whether the derived equation applies universally to different masses of balls and seek confirmation on its validity.

Discussion Status

Some participants affirm the correctness of the equations presented, while the original poster continues to seek additional confirmations and clarity on the applicability of the equations to various types of balls.

Contextual Notes

There is a specific focus on the height of the ramp rather than the height of the table, which may influence the calculations. The original poster mentions that the lab indicates mass cancels out in the equations, prompting further inquiry into the implications of this for different masses.

AznBoi
Messages
470
Reaction score
0
We are doing a Lab on Projectile motion:
http://online.cctt.org/physicslab/content/Phy1/labs/energy/Bullseye.asp

It is where you take a ball and roll it off a ramp, off the table. Then you would need to estimate the precise landing spot on the ground.

Directions: You are given the height of the table, but not the distance or the velocity of the ball rolling down. What you need to find is the distance (displacement of the ball from the table to the ground).

I have looked over many problems like this and I have solved examples many times and were correct. However, how do you find the velocity of the ball? My teacher said you don't really need the velocity to calcuate the distance but how??


Is this how you calculate the horizontal velocity of the ball coming down a ramp?

PEtop = KEbase
mgh = ½mv^2
2mgh = mv^2
square root( 2gh) = v

So would the velocity equal the sqr root(2(-9.8m/s^2)(h))?
Does the average horizontal velocity always equal that no matter how big the mass of the ball/marble is?? Please explain. Thanks.


After I know the velocity, I will be able to solve the lab, I just need to know if that equation is correct or not, and why. We haven't gone over PE and KE stuff.. Thanks a lot! :biggrin:
 
Physics news on Phys.org
yes, you have the right equations
 
by the way, the h (height) is suppose to be the height of the RAMP not the height of the table. Is this equation correct for finding the velocity of any ball/sphere/marble rolling off the ramp??

I just need to find the velocity of the ball rolling down the ramp. I don't know if the equation is valid or not for it. I mean does it apply to all balls no matter what their mass is? If you look on the lab website, it says that the masses cancel out and therefor remain with: v= sqr. rt. (2gh)

Does anyone know if this equation is good for any ball with any kind of mass? If you need to see the lab, it is on the top of the page.
 
ok thanks, but I need more confirmations.. Anyone else??
 

Similar threads

Replies
40
Views
3K
Replies
12
Views
1K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K