Projectile Motion

     ~In this lab, we headed to the gym to analyze a launched projectile. A projectile is when an object is only acted on by the force of gravity. Using a basketball, one person threw the basketball in the air, while the other video taped. The force of gravity acted on the launched basketball and made it fall down. After, we analyzed the video and looked at the graphs made after making marks of the ball in the video. After making the blue marks, we opened the and looked at the x and y graphs. We looked for any slopes to see if there was acceleration.

X graphs: On the top graph, we see that the slope is constant and unchanging. It is not messy.

However, on the bottom graph, the line is straight but looks very crooked and messy because the scale of the graph is very small.

     -Because the bottom graph has no slope and is relatively constant, there is no net force.

                                                


Y graphs: The top graph looks like a parabola and has an acceleration because the slope is always changing.

On the bottom graph, the line is moving downwards and has a negative slope. The line also goes below the x axis because when the ball is in its highest point, it stops moving. At this moment, it starts to fall down. Because there are slopes, there is acceleration.

 

When we combined the slopes in our table we got an average of -10 m/s squared. In class, we found out that the slope is -g. 

The general path of motion is to go up and then down because of gravity. Gravity pulls the object down when it the object is launched forward or up. 

2D Force and Circular Motion

    To analyze force in 2D means that the single force acting on the object can be comprised of two parts or components. There is a force going upwards and a force going rightwards. The vertical component is the upward influence of the force, and the horizontal component is the rightward influence of the force (Forces in Two Dimensions). To measure the amount of a single vector, you must use the trigonometric functions. For an object to move in a circle, it needs a centripetal force to act on it. The net force must be towards the circle that acts as the centripetal force. Next, it needs acceleration. The object, when moving in a circle, is moving at a constant speed, but changes direction. At all instances, the object is moving tangent to the circle, but the net force makes it move in a circle. To be in orbit means to revolve around another object. Satellites orbit planets by having one force. The net force is the one directed towards the planet. The pull of gravity pulls the satellite in. While it is moving at a constant speed, it constantly changes direction, therefore it is accelerating. At all instances, the satellite is moving tangent to the circle. But the net force pulls it in making it move in a circle. Planets revolve around the sun in the same way. Planets have a net force directed towards the sun. The sun’s gravity pulls the planets in. At all instances, the planets too move tangent to the circle. But, the sun’s gravity pulls them in making them travel in a circle.