User's Manual

012-05479B Mini Launcher

ALTERNATE METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE INITIAL VELOCITY OF THE BALL (US-

ING PHOTOGATES)

➀ Attach the photogate bracket to the Launcher and attach two photogates to the bracket.

Plug the photogates into a computer or other timer.

➁ Adjust the angle of the Mini Launcher to 90 degrees (straight up).

➂ Put the steel ball into the Mini Launcher and cock it to the chosen range.

➃ Run the timing program and set it to measure the time between the ball blocking the two

photogates.

➄ Shoot the ball three times and take the average of these times. Record in Table 5.2.

➅ The distance between the photogates is 10 cm. Calculate the initial speed of the ball and

record it in Table 5.2.

Table 5.2 Initial Speed Using Photogates

MEASURING THE HEIGHT

➀ Adjust the angle of the Launcher to 90 degrees (straight up).

➁ Shoot the ball on the chosen range setting several times and measure the maximum height

attained by the ball. Record in Table 5.3.

➂ Determine the mass of the ball and record in Table 5.3.

Analysis

➀ Calculate the initial kinetic energy and record in Table 5.3.

➁ Calculate the final potential energy and record in Table 5.3.

➂ Calculate the percent difference between the initial and final energies and record in Table

5.3.

TRIAL NUMBER TIME

AVERAGE TIME

INITIAL SPEED