Projectile Motion 1
Xavier University of Louisiana
Projectile Motion Laboratory Report
Physics lab
Dr. Islam
Nov 15, 2025
Briseis Thomas
Projectile Motion 2
Abstract
This investigation explored the behavior of projectile motion by studying how launch
angle influences horizontal displacement and by comparing experimental outcomes with
theoretical predictions. A projectile launcher was set to 20°, 45°, and 75°, and three trials
were completed for each angle. The initial launch velocity, calculated from the maximum
height of a vertically launched projectile, was found to be v₀ = 32.9 m/s. Using this value,
theoretical ranges were obtained from kinematic equations and evaluated against the
measured distances. As expected, the 45° launch yielded the greatest horizontal range.
Percent error was smallest at 45° (0.48%) and largest at 75% (19.2%). Overall, the
collected data supported the kinematic model of projectile motion and confirmed that a
45° angle produces the optimal range.
Introduction
Projectile motion describes the path of an object that moves in two dimensions while
being accelerated only by gravity. In such motion, the horizontal velocity stays constant,
while the vertical velocity changes uniformly due to gravitational acceleration. Because
these components act independently, analyzing projectile motion requires separating
horizontal and vertical kinematic equations.
The goal of this experiment was to record the horizontal distance traveled by a projectile
launched at three angles, determine the initial launch speed from vertical motion, and
compare measured ranges with theoretical predictions based on kinematic principles.
Methods
Activity 1: Measuring the Projectile Range
The projectile launcher was set up at one end of the lab table and adjusted so that the
fired ball would land cleanly on the tabletop. A meter stick was placed with its zero mark
directly beneath the point where the projectile left the launcher, establishing the reference
position for all distance measurements. For each of the selected angles, 20°, 45°, and 75°,
three launches were performed, and the horizontal distance traveled (Δx) was recorded
for every trial.
Activity 2: Determining Initial Launch Speed
To determine the initial launch speed, the launcher was rotated to fire the projectile
vertically (90°). The maximum height reached by the projectile was measured for three
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separate trials, producing values of 57 cm, 53.5 cm, and 55 cm. These measurements
gave an average height of 55.3 cm. The initial velocity was then computed using the
free-fall kinematic relationship between height and launch speed.
Activity 3: Predicting the Range
With the initial speed known from Activity 2, the horizontal and vertical components of
the velocity were calculated for each launch angle. The vertical component was used to
determine the projectile’s total time in the air using the appropriate kinematic equation.
The theoretical horizontal range was then obtained by multiplying this time of flight by
the corresponding horizontal velocity component.
Procedure
Activity 1
1. Place the projectile launcher at one end of the lab table, aiming toward the
opposite end where there is sufficient landing space.
2. Ensure the launcher is stable and aligned so the ball is fired horizontally along the
table surface.
3. Locate the launcher’s initial release indicator mark. This position represents the
point where the ball is no longer in contact with the launcher barrel and is
considered the launch reference point.
4. Place a meter stick on the table so that its zero mark is aligned directly below the
release point of the launcher. This position defines x=0 for all measurements.
5. Place a second meter stick next to the first one to extend the measuring range in
case the projectile travels farther than one meter.
6. Adjust the launcher to a firing angle of 20°. Load the ball into the launcher and use
the ramrod to push it into place until the short-range stop clicks.
7. Fire the projectile and record the horizontal distance (Δx) from the x=0 mark to
the landing point on the table.
8. Repeat the firing procedure for a total of three trials at 20° and record all
measurements.
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9. Repeat Steps 6–8 for firing angles of 45° and 75°, keeping the launcher setting at
SHORT RANGE for all trials.
10. Calculate and record the average projectile range for each firing angle.
Angle° Trial 20° 45° 75°
Measured Δx 1 81m 110m 50m
2 84m 104.5 43m
3 86.5 m 110m 41m
Average Δx 83.8 m 104.8 44.6 m
Activity 2
1. Measure the vertical distance from the launch reference point to the surface of the
table. Record this value as the free-fall height y.
2. Rotate the launcher to a firing angle of 90° so the projectile is launched straight
upward.
3. Load the ball into the launcher using the ramrod until the short-range stopping
position clicks.
4. Position a meter stick next to the launcher to measure the ball’s maximum vertical
height above the table.
5. Fire the projectile and record the maximum height the ball reaches.
6. Repeat the firing for a total of three trials, recording each maximum height
measurement.
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7. Calculate and record the average maximum height.
8. Use the free-fall kinematic equation to compute the initial launch speed:
Vo = sqrt(2g(ymax-y))
y0 y1 y2 y3
77m 78-21=57 74.5-21+53.5 76-21+55
Average max height y = 55.2 m
Free-fall kinematic equation is used to find Vo=32.9 m/s
Activity 3
1. Using the launch speed from Activity 2 and the theoretical projectile motion
equations, calculate the predicted horizontal range (Δx) for each launch angle
tested (20°, 45°, and 75°).
2. Record the predicted values in a comparison table alongside the measured ranges
from Activity 1.
3. Compute the percent error between measured and predicted ranges using:
% error = |(Measured-Predicted)/Predicted| x 100
4. Answer all analysis questions in the lab manual based on the collected data,
graphs, and calculated values.
Results
Angle (°) Measured Range Calculated Range Percent Error (%)
(cm) (cm)
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20° 83.8 72.1 8.62
45° 109.8 110.34 .48
75° 44.6 35.2 19.2
Figure 1
Projectile range as a function of launch angle. The gold line (“Measured Range”) shows
the average horizontal displacement recorded for each angle, while the blue line
represents calculated predictions.
Discussion
The results closely follow the expected behavior of projectile motion. The projectile
launched at 45° traveled the farthest, which aligns with theoretical predictions since this
angle evenly distributes the initial velocity into horizontal and vertical components. The
measured and calculated ranges for 45° were nearly identical, producing the smallest
percent error.
At 20° and 75°, larger discrepancies appeared. At 20°, the shorter flight time reduced the
range; at 75°, most of the launch velocity was directed vertically, significantly shortening
horizontal displacement. The greater percent error at 75° likely resulted from increased
sensitivity to small measurement inaccuracies and greater influence of air resistance at
steeper launch angles.
Overall, the experimental observations reinforced the predictions made by projectile
motion theory.
Conclusion
This experiment confirmed that projectile motion can be accurately described using
kinematic equations when the initial velocity is known. The initial launch speed of 32.9
m/s, calculated from maximum height data, successfully predicted the theoretical
horizontal range for each tested angle. The 45° launch produced the greatest range and
displayed the closest agreement between predicted and measured values, confirming the
optimality of this angle for maximum horizontal displacement.
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References
General Physics I Laboratory. (2017). Lab 4: Projectile motion. Xavier University of
Louisiana.
Vernier Software & Technology. (2018). LoggerPro (Version 3.15). Vernier Software &
Technology.