Question

Activity #1:

To begin with, you will be asked to throw a ball in the air, and record it on a camera, cell phone, webcam, etc. Whatever you have on hand that can create a digital video of the throw. Please follow the procedure outlined below to complete your video.


Setup your camera such that it can capture the ENTIRE throw of the ball, from release to the peak, to catching it again.


Throw the ball in the air so that it reaches a decent maximum height. Roughly more than a meter but less than 10 meters. Again, the camera should be able to see the entire path of the ball.


Throw the ball straight up in the air, not sideways at all. You should catch the ball at the same height at which you threw it.


Repeat the procedure a few times, to make sure you get a clean throw. Record each throw and pick the best for analysis. Keep that video and submit it with your lab report.

From your video, step through it frame by frame and record the time from the moment the ball leaves your hand. Then make note of the time right before the ball comes back to your hand. Find the time of flight of the ball and write out all your work below.

Time ball left hand Time ball returned hand

1st: 00:00:53 00:01:48
2nd 00:00:56 00:01:30
3rd 00:00:50 00:01:20
4th 00:00:60 00:01:46

Making some assumptions about the initial and final velocities, derive an equation for finding the velocity from the time of flight you measured in #2. Write out all your work. (HINT: v0 = -vf)


From the information you have, derive the maximum height of the ball you threw. Write out all the work in the space below.


Using your video and estimating a scale, comment on how accurate your calculation of maximum height is. Write out all your work and assumptions, i.e. using your height, you estimate the height of the ball to be twice your height).


In the space below, sketch a graph of the position versus time, velocity versus time, and acceleration versus time of the ball’s flight. You can do this with a spreadsheet program, or by hand, your preference. Below each sketch, explain your choice of graph shape.


Write a lab summary explaining what you did and the physics principles involved. Additionally, explain any systematic sources of error in your data. Include comments on how you might correct errors given more time and better lab materials.


Describe how you think constant acceleration kinematics may apply in your daily life. It could be related to work, home, or other activities.

Answer 1

Answer:

For example, in machine components it is common to use kinematics analysis to determine the (unknown) speed of an object, that is connected to another object moving at a known speed. For example, one may wish to determine the linear velocity of a piston connected to a flywheel that is turning at a known speed