In classroom ( or at home ) activity

Key Concepts

Distance, displacement, initial velocity, average velocity, TOA, TOD, TOF

Duration

1 hour including calculations and analysis

Materials Required

A toy gun with projectiles, stopwatch ( digital ) or stopwatch app in a mobile, a mobile to record & general stationery

Procedure

1. Launch the projectle form the toy gun. Just observe/record its flight and estimate the region where it reaches the maximum height.
2. Reload and launch it with a measuring scale in the background ( based on estimate from step 1 ) to see the height gained by it.
3. Think of a way of timing the projectile as it goes up and comes down.
4. From the TOF or TOA calculate the initial velocity of the projectile.
5. From the initial velocity or TOA calculate the height reached by it. Compare the calculated value with the one observed in the video.
6. Using the data analyse:
   • How to refine your technique to increase the accuracy of the result.
   • Choose different projectiles and compare calculated results wth observed results.
   • Repeat the experiment with a free falling body ( from the height observed in the projectile expt. ). Compare the results and check for accuracy.
7. Think of any more analysis that can be done using this data.

Video Demonstration