Aweaverballistic

Ballistic Pendulum

A ball was placed in the ballistic pendulum and fired several times to measure the angle to which it rose. The horizontal distance the ball traveled was also measured as well as the masses of both the pendulum with the ball, and the ball itself. The length of the pendulum string was measured too in order to solve for the overall height the pendulum rose. We then used momentum to solve for the experimental value of the ball's muzzle velocity and kinematics to solve for the actual value. Percent error was then calculated.

Angles collected: 19.5 22.5 25.0 21.5 21.0 23.5 22.0 23.5 Average: 22.31

Height from floor to launcher(dy): .857m Mass of ball (Mb): .00763kg Marble and Launcher(Mp): .0865kg Horizontal distance(dx): 3m Height(h): .225- .225cos22.3= .0106

Experimental Value:

P=MbVb=(Mb+Mp)*V

energy during swing: .5*(Mb+Mp)*V^2=(Mb+Mp)gh .5(Mb+Mp)*(MbVb/MbMp)^2=(Mb+Mp)gh

so, Vb=Mb+Mp/Mb* √(2gh) ((.0076)+(.0865)/(.0076)* √(2*9.8*.0106) Vb=5.65m/s

dy=.5gt^2 t= √(2dy/g) t=.418

muzzle velocity: v=dx/t v=3/.418 v=7.17m/s

Percent Error= l (actual-experimental)/experimental l (7.17-5.65)/(5.65)=26.9% Error