Projectile Motion
1.1 Pre-Laboratory
In this handout, vectors will be denoted by boldface letters. For example, v denotes a vector. The magnitude of
... [Show More] v,
which is a number, will be denoted by |v| = v.
In the Projectile Motion laboratory we will be investigating the motion of a ball toss. You’ll be videotaping two
people tossing a ball back and forth, and then analyzing the motion of the ball using VideoPoint™ software. As a
preparation for the laboratory, there are a few questions for you to think about and answer. Your GSI will check to
see that you’ve completed this before conducting the laboratory.
1. Imagine tossing a ball to another person who is standing about 5 m from you, who then catches it at approximately the same height at which you let it go. Describe in words and with a graph of vertical position versus
time, how the vertical position of the ball will change after it leaves your hands up until right before the other
person catches it.
2. Describe in words and with a graph of horizontal position versus time how the horizontal motion of the ball
will change after it leaves your hands up until right before it is caught.
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1. PROJECTILE MOTION
3. Describe in words and with a graph of vertical velocity versus time how the vertical velocity of the ball will
change after it leaves your hands up until right before it is caught. In your description, pay particular attention
to what’s happening at the top of the toss and indicate where the top of the toss occurs on your graph.
4. Describe in words and with a graph of horizontal velocity versus time how the horizontal velocity of the ball
will change after it leaves your hands up until right before it is caught. In your description, pay particular
attention to what’s happening at the top of the toss and indicate where the top of the toss occurs on your
graph.
5. Describe in words and with a graph of vertical acceleration versus time how the vertical acceleration of the
ball will change after it leaves your hands up until right before it is caught. In your description, pay particular
attention to what’s happening at the top of the toss and indicate where the top of the toss occurs on your
graph. [Show Less]